If rumours circulating about João Mário joining from Inter Milan prove accurate, it would be some statement of intent from Wolves.
And coupled with the ongoing pursuit of Oleksandr Zinchenko there’s a pleasing whiff of quality over quantity in the club’s approach to recruitment.
I’m of the firm belief bodies still need to be added, but as many a manager has said before, they’ve got to be an improvement on what we’ve got.
Mario, like Zinchenko and like Patricio and Jimenez, is an established international who you would hope fulfils that simple brief.
Inter Milan stumped up £35 million to sign him from Sporting Lisbon in 2016 and he was part of Portugal’s World Cup squad this summer. At 25 you would hope he still has a lot to offer.
Wolves are the ideal destination for any Portuguese player looking to transition into English football, so the signing makes a lot of sense.
With Inter making no secret about their desire to sell, Bournemouth reportedly had a bid rejected earlier in the summer and West Ham opted against making his loan move permanent after a decent loan spell in the second half of last season.
I went onto a West Ham forum to see what Hammers fans thought about the midfielder with the majority of comments overwhelmingly positive.
I think people often have an aversion to signing loaners as they are not as shiny as brand new signings. But Mario scored goals, created goals, and contributed to our attacking play in a positive way. The fact remains that he knows the club, and might be willing to stick around. It would be a win to sign him permanently.
There is always that sense that, when you make a loan deal permanent you are really paying out £20m+ just to stand still………and to be exactly where you were on the last day of the season. It makes it seem that you have spent £20m without improving the squad at all from last season. And yet, he may be worth it. I’m really, 50-50 on it. I liked his attitude to being here. Seemed to embrace it. Nice player.
I think he’s worth the reported 20m. He looked good under a defensive manager in Moyes, and I would be very excited to see what he looks like under Pellegrini. Given the freedom of the pitch in a David Silva-esque role alongside Lanzini, I could really see him linking up well with our attacking players and marauding full backs.
should sign him up he was getting better each game towards the end of the season after adjusting to the league. good age and sounds like he wants to join.
25m for a 25 year old current Portugal international is good business.
I’ve been a big fan of his since he arrived and I’m eager for us to the him down to a permanent deal before someone else snaps him up. Especially when he scores a best of a goal tonight playing for Portugal. £25m? Just pay it, seen more than enough now to be convinced it’s a fair price for what he offers and at a very good age who settled into the English game well under trying circumstances. Now wanna see what Pellegrini does with him…
Get him in be quality with neves
Plus another player that will be used to nunos system,
Bit different to Saville Edwards and Evans
Seems to be the type of player we want hope it comes off if that’s who Nuno wants. Read that Zinchenko does not like Manchester as there was not as much to do as in Russia, so do not think the bright lights of wolves will interest him.
Think this has been the best World Cup in years since Brazil were in their pomp after all the Italian defensive years, thought the games were really exciting and good football played ??????
I would think he would fit right in, but the important thing is that Nuno thinks he will fit right in. And he obviously does, if reports are to be believed. Another piece in this ever evolving, very exciting jigsaw.
Just a word about the World Cup Final. Whatever the result, whatever the controversy. I feel that Croatia, their team, their fans, hell yes, even their smiley President, can go home with their heads held high. No disgrace for us to have gone out to such a superb team.
And if the ref in the semi final had done his job properly, and sent off at least one and maybe two in the first half, and the England players had done their job properly in the second half, it could have been us getting beaten by France, instead of Croatia!
I know a lot of you thought we played well, but my theory is this:
How many of the big boys went out early?
The likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Ramos etc?
Why?
Coz when they play for their clubs, they are surrounded by good players from all over the world.
When they play for their countries, not so many good players surrounding them to make them look good.
The same can be said for Kane and Ali.
Erickson makes Tottenham purr, and a few other, non English players.
Thus Kane especially struggled to score from open play.
But, it augers well for The Wolves in the coming season, since there were a lot of Prem players at the world cup, and with the season only a few weeks away, a lot of the cry babies are going to be whining about being tired and overworked and I didn’t have my two weeks in Benidorm, and a bunch other whiney excuses as to why they are playing crap!
While we will quietly take advantage and storm to the top of the table and cream the opposition!!
Yet another of my theories1
Getting cabin fever for The Lads!!
There’s a lot in what you say Clive. It’s interesting that we often use the hectic English PL schedule as an excuse for our tiredness in our national team, yet many foreign players also play in the Prem’ and don’t look so knackered.
They also say that lack of opportunity for our youngsters in the Prem is a major factor. I feel though, that if they are good enough, they’ll play. Croatian facilities back home are almost non-existant, but it doesn’t stop their youngsters coming through to be great players.
Agreed.
They should also get the ‘Fittest team in the tournament’ prize. They never stopped running and played, with all the extra times they had, the equivalent of an extra game.
Which makes me wonder if our players are fit enough?
And their smiley president certainly won theDOOGooder’s ‘Wet t shirt competition’ during the presentation.
And finally, that slimy, evil, hateful example of manhood (?) Mr Putin turned out to be just another ‘Wally with a brolly’.
It seems ironic that VAR did just what it was brought in to avoid doing. Not a penalty or a free kick but what football Croatia played. I also thought the Croatian President was different class and a genuine fan. Can’t really imagine May behaving like that. Yes, best world cup in ages, (I’ve forgotten about Neymar already), and well done to Russia for pulling it off.
Loved the piccy of that nice Mr Macron that’s doing the rounds today too. Can’t fake that joy. Been there myself many times. Especially last season.
Sure would be an exciting signing. Like the fact he has already played in the premier league and received by and large favourable reviews. Hopefully the Portuguese connection can make it an easy decision to come here.
Hi Guys, off topic but nowhere really where this would be appropriate. I am a long time reader of this blog and love the new look…well done Thomas. When promotion was assured I was given a leave pass by the wife to visit the Old Dart with the express purpose of seeing my beloved Wolves in the Premier League. I have followed the Wolves since I first saw them as a lad in 1977 when the toured Australia, but have really never been in a position to come over on a holiday to watch them play at the Mol. As I said this year is different and with my two Burnley loving brothers (my Father is from Burnley) we are planning on late March early April visit for the Wolves Burnley game at Turf and then the Wolves v ManU game at the Mol. I tear up at the thought of visiting Molineux. My worry is after contacting the ticket office to try to get tickets they told me there was nothing we can do and you can buy tickets when they come on sale about 6 weeks prior to the event. Very scary prospect when you are spending a few thousand to get their. Long story short what do you guys suggest as the best way to secure tickets for this game (I am a MyWolves member also.)? COYW. Would also love to be a part of a few lagers before and after the games.
Do what I do.
Beg.
If that fails, my debonaire good looks, wit, charm and modesty usually work.
Mugging also works. There are a lot of really old farts hanging around Billy Wright’s statue drinking bovril and stuffing their faces with candy bars at 2.45 most game days, such as Stuwolf, Twixfix, Bedders, Brompto, Doogle and others.
You get the drift.
They are a pretty feeble bunch and it’s no great shakes to nick a ticket ftom one of them!
Seroiusly, have a word with Stuwolf, he’s got fingers in all sorts of Wolves related pies.
My guess is Melbwolf, that, as a MyWolves member, get in early and you’ll get a ticket. As for the game at Turf Moor, you;ll probably have to be in with the homers.
Thanks Clive and Wolfstroker, Not blessed with Clive’s charms I will have to hope to get a ticket via my membership . Can’t wait for it all to happen!
Bloody hell. That picture of him suggests he had no eyes, nose or mouth. He also wears his shirt back to front. Apart from that, with a bit of coaching, some cosmetic surgery and advice on how to put a shirt on he could be fucking great.
He looks like a seriously ugly f****r. Bit like Coady with the bit between his teeth. Sign him.
Wolves audio commentary for premier league is FREE for 2018/2019.
Excellent news.
Better than the headline – “Wolves beat young boys”
I like how you de-capitalised Young Boys to make it sound quite scary!!
I laughed for ages.
Scunthorpe, Lincoln and Mansfield in Checkatrade Trophy,
Ah well, three more grounds to get to the 92!