Joao Palhinha could make his Wolves debut on the opening day of the new Premier League season against Leeds United, with Bruno Lage interested in the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.
Lage’s side will see in the new campaign at Elland Road on August 6 before hosting Fulham a week later. A trip to the capital follows for the Black Country side at Tottenham Hotspur on August 20. Wolves then round out the month against Newcastle United and Bournemouth.
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The Molineux natives will inspire to produce a stronger start to the season than the West Midlands outfit managed last term. Lage suffered defeats in the opening three fixtures of his tenure as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor, before finding form with six wins from nine.
Results remained persistent through to beating Leicester City on February 20 to sit seventh in the table. Lage’s men were firmly in the Champions League race with a four-point gap to Manchester United in fourth. But three wins in their final 14 fixtures saw Wolves plummet.
Only Southampton (8) and would-be relegated duo Norwich City and Watford (8) claimed fewer points than Wolves (11) after February 20. Now, Lage is seeking to refresh his ranks over the off-season with doubts lingering around Ruben Neves and Romain Saiss released.
Wolves are interested in Sporting Lisbon swoop for Joao Palhinha
Wolves are interested in raiding Sporting Lisbon for Palhinha this summer as Lage sees the midfielder as the perfect replacement for Neves, per The Sun. Fears are strong at Molineux that Neves wants to leave, but club chiefs are confident Palhinha will snub Fulham’s glares.
Palhinha had agreed to move to the West Midlands in a £20m transfer earlier this month, but gave focus to Portugal’s Nations League games. Marco Silva sought to use the delay to lure the 26-year-old to Craven Cottage. Yet Fulham are unwilling to match Wolves’ offer.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes is brokering talks for Palhinha to move to the Premier League, plus Neves’ attempts to leave Wolves. Any deals could gain pace now, too, with Lage keen to clear himself of the headache surrounding Neves’s uncertain future as soon as possible.
Should Palhinha indeed move to Molineux to replace Neves, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder can make his Wolves debut on the opening day of the new Premier League season against Leeds. So, with that in mind, what could Lage’s first 2022/23 XI look like at Elland Road?
Jose Sa (GK): Wolves’ Player of the Season in strong debut campaign
Jose Sa produced a stunning debut Premier League campaign with 11 clean sheets from 37 appearances last term to win Wolves’ Supporters’ Player of the Season award. Lage signed the 29-year-old from Olympiakos last July for £6.25m to replace £10.25m sale Rui Patricio.
Max Kilman (CB): Defender to regain ever-present status after injury blow
Max Kilman will strive to regain his ever-present status in Lage’s plans next season after an ankle ligament injury derailed his 2021/22 campaign. The defender started 30 of a possible 32 Premier League fixtures after his Molineux breakthrough the prior term with 18 games.
Conor Coady (CB): Wolves captain to cement World Cup credentials
Wolves captain Conor Coady will strive to cement his credentials for England ahead of the World Cup in Qatar next season. The 10-cap defender has been a regular fixture in Gareth Southgate’s plans since 2020, but is still only a rotational piece in the Three Lions’ backline.
David Carmo (CB): Wolves interested in Braga raid for new defender
With Wolves releasing Saiss ahead of his contract expiring on June 30, Lage is interested in raiding Braga for David Carmo. O Jogo report the Molineux natives are one of several sides eying the 22-year-old, who Bild link Wolfsburg with and cite a €25m (£21.5m) asking price.
Nelson Semedo (RM): Portugal ace intent on earning new Wolves contract
Nelson Semedo is intent on earning a new contract at Wolves with his current terms set to end in 2023. The Portuguese ace told the Express & Star: “I am focused here. I’m doing my recovery [from a hamstring injury], I’ll come again, play and fight, to try to help the team.”
Joao Palhinha (CM): Wolves interested in Sporting swoop for Portugal ace
Palhinha is earning interest from Wolves and Fulham this summer after anchoring Sporting Lisbon’s midfield over 38 games last season. He also scored three goals, and helped Ruben Amorim’s side win the Allianz Cup, while reaching the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal.
Joao Moutinho (CM): Star midfielder in line for new Molineux contract
Joao Moutinho is out of contract on June 30, but the Express & Star report is edging closer to signing a new deal. Talks have been ongoing between Wolves and the 35-year-old since the end of the season, having differed between agreeing on a two or a one-year extension.
Hwang Hee-Chan (LM): Japan ace to rediscover promising form under Lage
Hwang Hee-Chan started well after joining Wolves on loan from RB Leipzig for the 2021/22 season with four goals in his first six Premier League games. Lage saw enough from the 26-year-old to take up a £14m option to buy, and will hope he rediscovers that bright start.
Goncalo Guedes (RW): Wolves interested in Valencia swoop for Portugal ace
Wolves are interested in strengthening Lage’s attack with Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes this summer, per Tuttosport via Football Italia. But the Molineux outfit face rivalling Roma for the 13-goal, six-assist 25-year-old, with Los Che no longer demanding €40m (£34.5m).
Instead, The Telegraph report Valencia will accept just £15m for Guedes this summer while citing Wolves’ interest in the forward. He features high on Lage’s shopping list after seeing his side score just 38 goals in 38 Premier League games last season – the 17th-best return.
Raul Jimenez (ST): Molineux chiefs expect Mallorca target to stay this summer
Senior Wolves figures expect Raul Jimenez will stay at Molineux this year and bounce back next term after scoring six Premier League goals in 2021/22, per The Athletic. The 31-year-old has received interest from Mallorca, plus clubs in MLS and Mexico, per the Daily Mail.
Takumi Minamino (LW): Wolves interested in Liverpool raid for Japan ace
Wolves are among a clutch of Premier League clubs showing an interest in signing Takumi Minamino from Liverpool. This Is Anfield report the 27-year-old can leave Merseyside for £17m with Leeds, Southampton and Fulham, plus Monaco, also keen on the left-forward.
Minamino’s agent, Yusuke Akiyama, is in Europe for talks with possible suitors as Liverpool expect a swift sale. The Japan international has failed to establish himself since joining the Reds from RB Salzburg in 2020, where he played under now-Leeds manager Jesse Marsch.
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