Transfer Centre

Wolverhampton Wanderers 'to bid £9m for Pele'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 25 April 2018

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly considering an approach for Rio Ave midfielder Pele ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Rio Ave midfielder Pele has reportedly emerged as a potential transfer target for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In his first campaign at the West Midlands outfit, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has guided Wolves to the Championship title and plans are already seemingly underway to add to the club's first-team squad.

Out-of-contract Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala is said to be on Wolves' radar and according to reports in Portugal, Nuno is ready to launch a raid on one of his former clubs.

Pele has enjoyed an impressive campaign with Rio Ave with the 26-year-old having scored five goals in 28 league appearances for the club, who sit in fifth place in the top-flight standings.

The player spent the early stages of his career with Genoa and AC Milan but since 2013, the defensive midfielder has represented six different clubs in Portugal.

Wolves have a strong connection with Portuguese football with Nuno and half-a-dozen first-team players all hailing from the nation, and Pele was born in the country before switching allegiances to Guinea-Bissau.