Wolves eye move for Goncalo Guedes

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been recently credited with an interest in Valencia star Goncalo Guedes.

Goncalo Guedes, 24, joined Valencia permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 after impressing on loan with the La Liga outfit. The Portuguese forward has since become an important player for Valencia, scoring 20 goals and further chipping in with 21 assists in 127 appearances. However, he has had an inconsistent campaign which has been the case with most of Los Ches’ players, registering four goals and as many assists in 25 games across all competitions.

Regardless of Guedes’ uninspiring goal return, he’s still apparently attracted interest from Wolves, who are ready to offer Patrick Cutrone in a part-exchange deal. Cutrone, who failed to make an impact during his time at Wolves, is currently on loan with Valencia. The Italian striker is yet to start for the Spanish side, managing just five substitute appearances so far.

Wolves’ lack of firepower in the squad

Wolves haven’t hit the heights of last season and currently find themselves 12^th in the Premier League table, 14 points off sixth-place West Ham. The Wanderers have struggled for consistency, with injuries to some of their key players disrupting their campaign.

Raul Jimenez has been a big miss for Wolves since fracturing his skill during the 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in November 2020. The Mexican, 29, has been a star performer for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side since arriving from Benfica in 2018, netting 34 goals in 86 top-flight appearances. With Diogo Jota leaving the Molineux Stadium for Liverpool in the summer, the onus of scoring goals fell to Jimenez, and since his nasty injury, Wolves have royally struggled for goals.

Nuno tried to address the lack of firepower in his squad by signing Willian Jose on loan from Real Sociedad during the January transfer window, but the Brazilian has netted just once in 11 league outings so far. Wolves’ record signing, Fabio Silva hasn’t taken the Premier League by storm and is still adapting to the demands of Nuno’s system and Adama Traore has been a shadow of his former self this term.

With 31 goals in 31 games, it is quite clear what Nuno’s squad needs next season. Apart from a prolific goalscorer to bolster the attack, Wolves must also sign a creative winger who can create and score goals in equal measure and compete with the likes of Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence and Traore.

Goncalo Guedes would be a gamble for the Wanderers

Predominantly a left-winger, Guedes is capable of playing equally well on the right side of the attack or down the middle. On several occasions at Valencia, the 24-year-old has also featured as a second striker and this could be of much help to Nuno, whose team has looked toothless for the majority part of this campaign.

However, Guedes hasn’t been a regular supplier of goals and assists for the Spanish side, registering 20 goals and 21 assists in 127 appearances to date. The ex-Benfica star may have picked up form of late with one goal and two assists in his last four La Liga outings; however, his overall numbers at Valencia aren’t quite promising.

Having said that, Wolves would take a massive gamble by signing the Portuguese international during the summer transfer window.