Unfortunately for Wolves, wingers like Chelsea’s new £54 million signing Pedro Neto do not grow on trees.
And even if they did, those capable of strolling into Gary O’Neil’s starting XI and immediately replicating the impact of the prancing Portugal international would maybe stretch the limits of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ financial reach anyway.
See Galeno, for instance.
HITC reported on Saturday that Wolves had joined the race to sign the Porto forward. However, the £51 million release clause in his contract means that – unless the Primeira Liga giants are willing to haggle – the men from Molineux would have to invest most of that Neto windfall straight off the bat.
Porto are not exactly in a perfect financial position.
But, as Mais Futebol explain, there is still little appetite to accept a bargain fee for a man who scored 16 goals and set up 12 more during a superb 2023/24 campaign at the Estadio do Dragao.
Wolves and Nottingham Forest eye Porto ace Galeno
HITC understands that Galeno is also on Nottingham Forest’s radar.
The two-time European Champions – now under control of ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo – have held talks with Porto, though it seems unlikely that Galeno will arrive at the City Ground if Forest can seal that drawn-out deal for Talleres wideman Ramon Sosa.
But what could Wolves or Forest expect from a player who recently earned his first cap for Brazil despite the best efforts of Portugal?
Andy Brassell, European football expert and a huge admirer of the silky 26-year-old, highlights the ‘fast and physical’ qualities that could help O’Neil move on from Neto.
“Galeno has been great over the last season-and-a-half in particular,” Brassell tells the On The Continent podcast. “He got into the Brazil team as well. Portugal were very keen to get him into their national team but he got into Brazil, which is great for him.
“(Galeno is) a very wide forward-type. A very modern wide player who can score goals from lots of different angles. Fast and physical.”
Galeno, who can also play on the right but prefers to cut in from the left, tended to save his biggest moments for the Champions League last term. A tally of five goals – to go with his three assists – saw Galeno finish joint-third in the competition’s scoring charts.
One of those came against Arsenal in the round-of-16, curling a wonderful effort past David Raya in the dying seconds to secure a first-leg win that Mikel Arteta’s side needed penalties to overcome.
Wolverhampton Wanderers looking for new signings
In addition to Wolves and Nottingham Forest, Galeno has been heavily linked with Italian giants Juventus.
The Bianconeri have already sold Matias Sole to Roma – despite Leicester City’s best efforts – and hope to move on another wideman in Federico Chiesa.
“I would love to see him at Juventus because he is a very different wide player to the ones they’ve got,” adds Brassell.
“Galeno is someone who is very interesting to Juventus at the moment. They are interested in a wide player to replace Federico Chiesa, who is on the way out.”
Galeno has picked up where he left off at the start of 2024/25.
He hit a 38-minute brace during the thrilling 4-3 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Super Cup a fortnight ago. He then followed that up with another strike against Gil Vicente in the league.
In addition to Galeno, Wolves are chasing Nantes defender Bastien Meupiyou. HITC understands that Wolves are confident with a £4.3 million bid being lodged.
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