‘Very important’: Manager doesn’t want to sell stars to Everton or Wolves

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Valencia manager Jose Bordalas hopes to retain both Goncalo Guedes and Lee Kang-in despite reports linking the La Liga duo with Everton and Wolves, as reported by El Desmarque.

Rather you than us, Jose.

If the former Getafe coach wants to avoid becoming the eighth manager to bite the bullet at the Mestalla Stadium since Peter Lim completed his 2014 takeover, he needs all the help he can get.

And, just to make an already difficult job that little bit more challenging, Bordalas is already facing up to the departure of two exciting young attackers.

According to Deporte Valenciano, the two-time Champions League finalists expect Guedes to join a Premier League club before the transfer window shuts.

Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both interested in the £13 million-rated winger, who you may remember scoring the winning goal in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League final victory over Holland two years ago.

Is Valencia star Guedes heading to Wolves?

South Korean schemer Lee Kang-in, meanwhile, has no intention of signing a new contract at the Mestalla (Super Deporte).

Wolves are interested in him too, with the £14 million-rated attacking midfielder – who has been compared to former Los Che stars David Silva and Isco – potentially capable of playing the ‘Joao Felix role’ in Bruno Lage’s side.

Bordalas wants to keep Guedes and Lee at Valencia. However, he wouldn’t be the first Los Che boss to be left feeling undermined by a lack of support from above.

“Guedes is a very important player and I want him to continue. He is very good and I hope he will be decisive in the new season,” says Bordalas, who will hope to last longer than Nuno Espirito Santo, Cesare Prandelli and Gary Neville did under Lim.

“Another thing is that a good offer arrives and the club considers something else. But I am counting on (Guedes) because he has a contract.

“I also have Kang (in my plans) because he has a contract – but we don’t know what will happen. My intention is to keep him, (I hope) he improves and adapts.”

Given that Guedes is represented by (guess who?) Jorge Mendes, Wolves appear to have a clear advantage over Everton in the battle for a jet-heeled winger.