Wolves willing to pay £11m but club ‘dream’ of £17m sale instead

Wolves are willing to invest £10 million on Murillo but the Premier League outfit may have to stump up considerably more to free the defender from Corinthians. 

With talks over Borussia Monchegladbach’s Nico Elvedi at an impasse – Wolves are reluctant to pay over £8 million for a defender out of contract in 2024 – a club suddenly under the control of Gary O’Neil are wasting no time identifying potential alternatives.

Hence, the sudden emergence as Murillo Santiago Costa dos Santos – or just Murillo, as he is better known – as a concrete option for the men from Molineux.

Wolves turn to Murillo

According to Goal Brasil, talks with Brazilian giants Corinthians are underway. Wolves are willing to pay around £10 million. But, given that Corinthians have already rejected an identical offer from Fiorentina, it’s safe to say few of an Old Gold persuasion should be holding their breath.

Especially with Murillo’s current employers reportedly ‘dreaming’ of a £17 million sale. Dreams and reality are two very different things of course. Globo Esporte add that Corinthians know their 20 million euro price-tag is a little on the ambitious side.

The smart money, then, is on a compromise between the two clubs being reached; Murillo’s eventual fee falling somewhere in the middle of the £10 and £17 million mark.

Gary O’Neil faces tough Wolves debut

Wolves, who travel to Manchester United on Monday night, do not exactly have time on their side as they look to reinforce a defence weakened by the sales of Conor Coady and Nathan Collins to Leicester City and Brentford respectively.

As it stands, Max Kilman, Craig Dawson and Toti Gomes as the only natural centre-halves at O’Neil’s disposal.

Elvedi remains an option. And, after the Switzerland international informed Borussia Monchengladbach of his wish to leave, the Bundesliga outfit could still come around to accepting Wolves’ £8 million offer.

“Nico has expressed a desire to move on after eight years,” sporting director Roland Virkus tells BuliNews. “And we only want players with 100 per cent commitment.

“We are in discussions with clubs. We will make a decision in the next two weeks. I can’t give (an exact) date yet.”

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‘I think’: Wolves boss makes prediction about Man United’s 2023/24 season

New Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is expecting a ‘better’ Manchester United this season ahead of Monday’s Premier League trip to Old Trafford.

While Rasmus Hojlund’s niggling injury means Manchester United will be without their new £64 million striker when Wolves come to town, Monday night should still see a competitive home debut for Erik ten Hag’s other two big-money summer signings.

Andre Onana is certain to start in goal. Mason Mount is likely to line up as part of a midfield trio too, flanking Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

After some well-placed signings, and with a year under Ten Hag now under their belt, big things are expected of the Red Devils this term.

O’Neil is certainly expecting improvements, under no illusions about the size of the task facing his Wolverhampton Wanderers side ahead of a most-daunting top-flight opener.

Wolves face Man United at Old Trafford

“I think they’ll be better than they were last season,” the former Bournemouth boss tells the BBC.

“It’s a big challenge. The big challenge for me is every other club in the Premier League has been working towards this game for six weeks, and we’ve had a very different pre-season.

“It’s not how you’d ideally want to prepare for the first game but there are no excuses.”

O’Neil in at the deep end

O’Neil was only confirmed as Wolves’ manager in midweek following the sudden departure of Julen Lopetegui. His Bournemouth side were beaten home and away by United in 2022/23; losing 3-0 at Old Trafford before Casemiro’s stunning volley secured three vital points in the top-four race.

“I thought we were good. There was not much in the game. We had a couple of decent chances,” O’Neill told the Bournemouth website after that hard-fought defeat.

“They didn’t create too much. They are obviously a good side and you have to defend certain situations, and the chance they take was a tricky one as well. A really good finish.

“They mean business. You can feel it around them.”