Incoming Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with getting the Midlands outfit again on monitor following what’s been a depressing begin to the season, with the membership at the moment rock-bottom of the desk heading into the World Cup break.
The 56-year-old has been left to select up the items following what was a dour finish to his predecessor Bruno Lage’s time in cost, with the latter man having been relieved of his duties initially of final month after a run on simply one win in 15 Premier League video games stretching again to the earlier season.
Lage had arguably not helped himself following what was a head-scratching summer time switch window, having notably allowed the skilled trio of Willy Boly, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss to depart in a single fell swoop, in addition to midfielder Leander Dendoncker – amongst others.
Equally, by way of incomings, the previous Benfica boss notably missed out on potential key additions, with one such blunder having been the failure to land Portugal worldwide, Joao Palhinha, with the midfielder having seemingly been a goal for the Previous Gold in the summertime.
Because it proved, regardless of Wolves’ curiosity, the 27-year-old finally opted to seal a swap to newly-promoted Fulham as an alternative, with the Cottagers wrapping up the deal for a reported price of simply £17m.
That price ticket now seems a complete “discount” – as per journalist Joe Prince-Wright – with the previous Sporting CP man having thrived for Marco Silva’s aspect to date, notably main the way in which within the league for tackles made (65).
Ought to Wolves have signed Palhinha?
Sure!
No, not satisfied
That achievement is moderately unsurprising for any who watched the 6 foot 3 ace in motion throughout his aspect’s conflict with Manchester United on the weekend, with the Lisbon-born star recording 9 tackles – essentially the most in a single top-flight recreation this season – in what was a really fearsome midfield efficiency.
The towering colossus – who additionally ranks within the high 1% in Europe amongst these in his place for tackles made – has made an instantaneous transition to life in English soccer, with the participant’s showings to date having even seen him dubbed “one of many signings of the season” by Sky Sports activities reporter, Jamie Weir.
A participant who seems as “sturdy as an Ox” – within the phrases of Weir – Palhinha might effectively have had some further metal to the Wolves midfield, with the membership probably in want of such a battling presence of their battle to finish this present stoop when membership motion resumes on the finish of subsequent month.
As it’s, it is going to little question be an actual supply of frustration so far as these at Molineux are involved to see their former goal performing so impressively in west London, having been left to remorse that switch failure.
