Julen Loptegui keen on defensive midfielder – €10m discount looks useful for PL club
On Tuesday, journalist César Luis Merlo reported Wolverhampton Wanderers have started talks to sign Real Betis’ Guido Rodríguez.
This is relayed by Estadio Deportivo, who have a report titled stating Wolves ‘go after’ the 29-year-old.
ED also provide their own update as they state Wolves’ efforts for the midfielder is ‘developing, for now’.
It’s claimed Julen Loptegui’s side could have contacted the agent to find out the financial conditions needed to take the player.
The report states Real Betis sporting director Antonio Cordón had asked €30m for him in the last two summer windows. He has now ‘softened’ his stance and lowered the request nearer to €20m, since the Argentina international’s deal expires in 2024.
Wolves have already seen Rúben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Hayao Kawabe leave Molineux and have made Boubacar Traoré’s loan stay permanent, a year after he joined them.
In need to bolster their squad, ED say Loptegui’s side are ‘immersed’ in searching for one or two defensive midfielders. Rodríguez is an option, which is why Wolves are going after him.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side are waiting to see how Wolves’ pursuit will evolve. Should the South American decide against leaving this summer, Betis would convince him to sign a new deal until 2027 or 2028.
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‘Electric’: £3m Wolves player got fans out of their seats on loan debut last night
Last week, Wolves confirmed the departure of Chiquinho who has joined Stoke City on loan for 2023/24 – and last night, the winger got off to a pretty good start.
Wolves decided to send the winger out this term, with sporting director Matt Hobbs confirming that the player was not in the immediate plans of Julen Loeptegui.
Chiquinho, of course, sustained a nasty knee injury this time last year.
He suffered ligament damage in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Burnley, and the injury would rule him out for the whole 2022/23 season.
After Chiquinho featured for Wolves in early pre-season, the club have figured that the £3 million player now needs a loan after recovering from his injury.
And last night, he turned out for the first time for Stoke.
Chiquinho catches the eye for Stoke in pre-season friendly against Burton Albion
Last night, Stoke took on Burton Albion in a pre-season friendly.
Alex Neil’s side ran out 1-0 winners at the Pirelli Stadium, and Chiquinho has very much been the talk of the town in the aftermath of the game.
Fans were really taken by his explosiveness, and he also linked up well with another Wolves loanee in Ki-Jana Hoever.
Chiquinho received a nice work from a local media outlet after the game for his 45-minute display.
The Stoke Sentinel said of him: “Showed electric pace in his 45-minute debut. Linked up nicely with Hoever on right side one to keep an eye on.
“Chiquinho showed electric pace inside the first ten minutes lifting Stoke fans off their seats. The Portuguese loan star played some neat backheel passes that stunned the Potters away crowd before being subbed at half-time.”
A promising start for Chiquinho – it’s a big season for him
It is great to see that Chiquinho has made an instant impression for Stoke.
Wolves officials have big hopes for him, and this coming season is undoubtedly a really big one for him after his awful injury.
It is particularly encouraging to see that Chiquinho still has that electric style and explosiveness, after sustained a really bad knee injury.
Wolves fans saw the potential of Chiquinho at the end of the 2021/22 season.
It was such a shame he suffered that injury when he did, because there was genuine potential for him to challenge for first-team minutes at the start of last season.
Hopefully now he can become a regular for Stoke, and he will return to Wolves next year ready to nail down a starting spot.
