BREAKING:
@Wolves
look set to sign Porto striker Fabio Da Silva. I understand the club will smash their transfer record by paying £35m for the 18-year-old.
BREAKING:
@Wolves
are hoping to add Robbie Keane to their promotion-chasing party. Keane, 37, is contracted to Indian Super League champions ATK until March. But it is understood he has been able to secure an early release to seal an emotional return to Molineux.
.
@Wolves
have agreed a £16m deal with
@ManCity
for left wing back Olegsandr Zinchenko. A fee of an initial £12m rising to £16m with add-ons is in place between the clubs.
I think fans should take a moment to drink this in. OK, Jota, Doc have gone, but
#Wolves
are paying £29m for Barcelona's right back after breaking their transfer record (£35m) on a player compared with Cristiano Ronaldo. And, we're led to believe, there's another to come.
Joao Moutinho to sign a permanent deal to join
@Wolves
, I'm told. For around £5m from
@AS_Monaco_EN
on a two-year deal. 113 caps for Portugal and a Euro 2016 winner.
.
@Wolves
are due to announce and unveil Traore tomorrow, and I'm told there could be two more signings before Thursday's 5pm deadline, including a possible 'marquee' arrival.
Bruno Lage has arrived in England ready to be unveiled as
@Wolves
new head coach. The 45-year-old's arrival tonight has beaten the 10-day quarantine required for people arriving from Portugal from June 8.
Anderlecht defensive midfielder Leander Dendoncker, 23, is due at Compton later today for talks and a medical with a view to joining
@Wolves
for a fee thought to be around £12m.
Nunes' impending signing will take Wolves' summer spending to around £89.7m. But I understand it's not over yet. Bruno Lage still wants another striker.
I expect the capture of Da Silva to be the first of several signings as
@Wolves
build for the new season. I include surely the most important of all -
@Nuno
- in that, now he's seeing evidence again of the club's ambition to match his own.
Captain Conor Coady has written to all 48
#Wolves
fans who travelled the 6,370-mile round trip to Armenia last week to thank them for their support. It was Coady's idea and will surely be well received by those who travelled.
I understand Jonny is at Compton to sign a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid. It will be an £18m joint club record signing for
@Wolves
, matching the amount they paid for Adama Traore.
FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST FROM JEFF SHI: “Fabio has the potential to be a generational talent and for us to see him develop under Nuno is very exciting. He is the type of player our fans will love.”
GET A LOAD OF THAT!
Reports suggest Nelson Semedo has agreed a five-year contract with
@Wolves
. Semedo has 13 Portugal caps and has won four league titles and four domestic cups. You don't play 124 games (82 in La Liga) for
@FCBarcelona
without being a serious good footballer.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is due to arrive in Wolverhampton tonight to sign a season-long loan with a view to a £20m permant transfer from Angers. Ruben Vinagre is joining Olympiakos in a similar arrangement, but the option on him is £22.5m.
Honestly not wishing to put a dampener on such a convincing
#Wolves
performance and victory, but was I alone in thinking fans held back in their celebrations of the first goal because of VAR? If so, I'm not surprised, but it's awful to think it's had that effect on people.
I'm told next week could be a big one for
@Wolves
. Lots going on behind the scenes, with Jorge Mendes's close colleague Valdir Cardoso working flat out to bring in several signings.
.
@Wolves
chairman Jeff Shi has flown to Spain this evening to meet Julen Lopetegui, the leading contender to replace Bruno Lage. Agent Jorge Mendes is due to be there too. Lopetegui's appointment has been delayed, reportedly by a family matter.
Interesting speaking to Portuguese reporters today about how
#Wolves
are received in Portugal. They say
#Wolves
are now the most popular English team in Portugal, and when they play, people gather in cafes and bars to watch the games.
.
@Wolves
are set to announce a bumper new deal for boss
@Nuno
Espirito Santo. Nuno, 44, has signed an improved three-year contract to stay at Molineux until 2021.
Nunes, a Portugal international, rejected the chance to join West Ham earlier this summer and was apparently waiting for Liverpool to step in. But I understand agent Jorge Mendes has persuaded him to join Wolves. Huge signing in more ways than one.
And for those baffled/frustrated/in meltdown over this, how about trusting the head coach who has taken
@Wolves
to the Championship title, two 7th-placed finishes, an FA Cup SF and a Europa League QF in 3 years? How many major mistakes has he made with players? I'll wait.
With so many negative stories about footballers, it was heartwarming today to hear a different side. When
@Wolves
forward
@Raul_Jimenez9
read on his Instagram page of two Mexicans in Dublin wanting to see the game at Man Utd, he invited them to fly over and left them two tickets.
What a window for
@Wolves
. The best ever summer in term of quality signings? OK, so no Zinchenko, and no 'marquee' buy in the end. More on that another time. But 10 signings, around £70m spent (inc. £12m Dendoncker fee)...what a time to be a
@Wolves
fan. Bring on the season.
I've seen a fair bit of Diogo Jota over the last 18 months. But I don't think I've ever seen him look as sharp or hungry as he was today. Superb performance even before completing his hat-trick.
In Nuno Santo's 100 games at Wolves he's gained promotion to the Premier League, beat Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Tottenham, Liverpool and qualified for the Europa League.
His 56th win tonight means he has the best win ratio of any manager in the clubs history 🐺💯
#WWFC
Nuno wanted reassurances that
@Wolves
' ambition matched his own in terms of investment in the squad, and he was able to gain those reassurances. The three recent signings are evidence of that commitment from the club.
Crikey, I remember being excited about signing Floyd Streete for £2,000 from Derby and Andy Mutch for £5,000 from Southport when
@Wolves
didn't have a pot to p*** in.
So here he is. Just 15 miles from Molineux, one of the founders of AC Milan, Alfred Edwards, born Oct 12, 1850, died April 4, 1923, is buried at Bridgnorth Cemetery. Without Alfred, we might never have had AC Milan, and
#Wolves
wouldn't have signed Patrick Cutrone from them!
I understand Porto midfielder Vitor Ferreira is at Compton this afternoon for his medical and to complete his move to
@Wolves
. The 20yo is joining on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move for around €20m (£18.2m).
Semedo, 26, is a serious upgrade for
@Wolves
. A two-time league winner with Benfica and Barcelona, he was part of Portugal's UEFA Nations League winning squad with Rui Patricio Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho last year, and has played over 80 games for Barca in three years.
Premier League players' goals in all competitions this season:
Raul Jimenez - 15
Raheem Sterling - 14
Sergio Agüero - 13
Harry Kane - 13
Sadio Mane - 12
Jamie Vardy - 12
#wolves
#wwfc
Update on Nuno:-
He was told five days ago of the decision
Fosun want to move in a new direction
Players were told after today's press conference but before the club's announcement
Talks ongoing with regards to a successor
Expect an announcement on his successor in about 2 wks
Key quote from Nuno: "What pleased me more was there were people saying they saw the 50s and 60s teams and they're coming back saying we're giving them that joy. They had a lot of beer, of course!"
It felt great volunteering for the NHS today at New Cross as
@ClareNash20
worked. I've cleaned safety glasses and goggles donated by schools for staff and walked my legs off delivering PPE around the wards. Hospital was quiet but everyone we saw was so friendly and appreciative.
Some will always be quick to turn, but
@Nuno
has united the
@Wolves
fanbase like no other, with a popularity and hero worship normally reserved for a star player and/or goalscorer, and a respect from fans arguably not seen since the great Stan Cullis was manager.
.
@Wolves
make it three straight wins in the top flight for the first time since March 1980. Up to seventh in the table, a point behind Man United. Wow! Let that sink in.
.
@Wolves
have confirmed the signing of full back Jonny Otto, 24, aka Jonny, on a season-long loan from
@Atleti
, after he joined A Madrid from Celta Vigo.
If, as seems extremely likely, Conor Coady leaves
@Wolves
for
@Everton
, I'll be sad. Been a superb captain and servant, as well as a model of consistency and for all that, has earned a quick move in World Cup year. I wish him well. Losing his leadership is some gap to replace.
.
@Nuno
says he has no problems with his sending off after running on the pitch to celebrate the 4th goal. "It is the law. But I was so happy, so happy. It was my emotions."
If this doesn't say Nuno's staying...
“Regarding recruitment, all of the club’s priorities are about supporting the head coach, and helping Nuno to build the team he wants. Every deal the club does, any following deals, sales, are all about supporting Nuno to build the team."
Matheus Nunes looks set to become Wolves' new record £42.2m signing. The Sporting midfielder, 23, has agreed the move, which is for an initial £38m. Nunes is due to arrive in England later this afternoon.
#Wolves
are unbeaten in London this season:
West Ham 0 Wolves 1
Crystal Palace 0 Wolves 1
Arsenal 1 Wolves 1
Fulham 1 Wolves 1
Tottenham 1 Wolves 3
Chelsea 1 Wolves 1
Stirring stuff from Mourinho at his post-match press conference...he's just said Wolves are fighting for, and can 'smell', the Champions League. High praise from one of the world's greatest managers.
ICYMI, from the BBC live feed: Here is what was said as Wolves skipper Conor Coady and referee Mike Dean came off the pitch at half-time...
Coady: Who is offside, Jota? From a corner?
Dean: *points to his earpiece*
Coady: You're the referee and even you don't know.
Interesting how
@alanshearer
on
@BBCMOTD
blamed Jordan Pickford for that stunning goal by
@rubendsneves_
. Said he took a step to his right and thought he didn't trust his wall. I just thought it was a cracking shot, but I'm not an expert.
.
@Wolves
star
@pedrolneto7
will miss the World Cup and is expected to be out for several months. The 22-year-old forward damaged ankle ligaments during last week's 2-0 defeat at West Ham. Wolves are set to confirm this sad news in full shortly.
So
#Wolves
have finished seventh in the Premier League just a year after being promoted from the Championship. What an extraordinary season for Nuno Espirito Santo's side. A Europa League place will be theirs if Manchester City win the FA Cup. Dare to dream, fans!
Jota will be a big loss to
@Wolves
after 44 goals in 131 games, but the £35m fee represents a huge profit on the £12m they paid Atletico Madrid over two years ago. The excellent Neto has been pushing him harder and harder in recent months.
Sadly I haven't got pics to show it but today I think Nuno was the most jovial and positive I have ever known him before a game. Boly is back and unusually, he joked with reporters. It was wonderful to see such a warm, engaging side of him rarely seen by the media.
I thought Wolves were much more like Nuno's Wolves today - and it's no coincidence Jonny was part of it. The guy is a proper defender and literally took one in the balls today to help keep a clean sheet.
Nuno Espirito Santo is keen on returning to
@Wolves
. Valdir Cardoso - right-hand man of Nuno's agent Jorge Mendes - is in Saudi Arabia, understood to be to discussing a release from the two-year contract Nuno signed with Al-Ittihad signed in July.
Yes, we'll miss THAT goal v Man U, the 12-minute hat-trick against Besiktas, the treble v Espanyol, becoming the first Wolves player to score 3 in a top flight game in 41yrs since JR, but the club evolved after Douglas, Costa and Cav and will do after Doc and Jota.
.
@Wolves
have spent £5m on improving their Compton training ground this summer. Two 'show' pitches with exactly the same specifications as Molineux, a revamped canteen, warm-up area and media facilities. From tmrw we might start to see how the changes have made a difference.
Joao Moutinho is having his medical today, prior to completing his £5m move to
@Wolves
. His arrival means a possible swoop for
@SpursOfficial
Victor Wanyama has been shelved.
.
@Wolves
' squad are set to leave for a training camp in Marbella on Wednesday morning for a few days, returning for the Newcastle game a week on Monday.
Sasa Kalajdzic is on his way to Compton Park to sign for Wolves and complete his £15.4m move to Molineux. The 6ft 7ins forward, 25, is set to sign a five-year deal.
Phil Neville on
@BBCMOTD
: "
#Wolves
were fantastic. They won't be frightened to go to any of the big clubs and attack. My only concern is that they won't be able to finish teams off."
I recall reading on social media those who thought Jota wasn't up to the PL as he came back from injury earlier in the season. I would hope they will reconsider after today.
Raúl Jiménez in his first Premier League season:
✓ 12 goals.
✓ 6 assists.
✓ 30 matches played.
✓ Top scorer for Wolves.
✓In the top 7 goalscorers in the Premier League.
✓ Direct participation in 18 of 38
#Wolves
goals.
.
@Raul_Jimenez9
has signed a new contract to stay at
@Wolves
to 2024. The Mexico international follows Conor Coady, who committed his future to Molineux until 2025 earlier this week.