Everton and West Ham are reportedly keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Helder Costa.
Wolverhampton Wanderers managing director Laurie Dalrymple has told the Express and Star that he can’t completely guarantee that Helder Costa won’t be sold on at the end of the season.
Wolves swooped to land Costa on loan from Benfica last summer with the help of super agent Jorge Mendes, and he arrived with great pedigree having also played for Deportivo La Coruna and Monaco.
The Portuguese winger, 23, has become one of the stars of a disappointing season for Wolves, as he has racked up eight goals and five assists in 26 Championship appearances for Wolves this season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Helder Costa in action with Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn and Oviemuno Ejaria
Costa really hit the headlines last month as he served up a scintillating performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup, setting up both goals whilst also terrorising the Reds defence with a number of driving runs.
Just a day before the January transfer deadline, Wolves forked out £13million to sign Costa permanently (BBC Sport), shattering the club’s transfer record in order to sign him well before the end of the season.
Unfortunately for Wolves, that hasn’t stopped speculation over Costa’s long-term future at Molineux, as the Daily Star noted this week that Everton and West Ham United are both eyeing up summer moves for Costa, which could cost £25million.
Helder Costa celebrates scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Norwich City
Signing him to then almost double their money seems smart from Wolves, but managing director Laurie Dalrymple has told the Express and Star that he hasn’t been signed just for that purpose.
Dalrymple stated that he wants Costa to be part of the Wolves squad for the long-term, but couldn’t completely rule out the possibility of Costa moving on at the end of the season, with Premier League clubs seemingly keeping tabs on his performances in the Championship.
“He’s not been bought just to be sold on,” said Dalrymple. “My understanding and my belief is we’ve bought him on a long term deal because we want him to be a big part of this club going forward. I’d be a bit of a fraud if I said he’s definitely not going anywhere in the summer because I don’t know that about anyone in the squad.”
“But I certainly wouldn’t want to lose someone of his ability having just made such a big statement by bringing him in. In the summer we potentially risk a bidding war with someone else. Given the way the loan deal was structured we had the opportunity to exercise that right to take him on a permanent deal.”
“He’s been signed on a long term deal. I want that to be fulfilled for as long as possible – as long as we think he can contribute to the team, whether that’s in the Championship or the Premier League, and as long as he wants to be in the squad and be part of Wolves,” he added.
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