A new era is set to begin at Wolves as Vitor Pereira is close to being appointed the successor to Gary O’Neil.
Wolves identified Vitor Pereira as the replacement for Gary O’Neil after he was sacked following the 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
The 56-year-old, who currently manages Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab, will arrive at Molineux with the instant pressure of a survival challenge.
Currently five points from safety in the Premier League, Pereira will sign an 18-month contract with Wolves as his move edges closer to being finalised.
The biggest task on Pereira’s hands is improving a defence that has conceded a whopping 40 goals in 16 matches while leaking 16 from set-pieces.
It isn’t the only problem he could have to deal with straight away as Matheus Cunha’s impending ban gives him a huge headache to resolve.
Referee Simon Hooper with Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the first half of the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderer...
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Matheus Cunha charged by the FA after Ipswich
On Tuesday, the FA hit Wolves forward Cunha with a ban following his disgraceful actions at full-time against the Tractor Boys.
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Video footage emerged of Cunha elbowing a member of Ipswich’s security team in the back of the head before snatching the glasses off the man’s face.
The Brazilian wasn’t the only one who let the emotions get the better of him, as wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent off after being involved in a scuffle post-match.
Ait-Nouri will now miss the visit to Leicester on Sunday while Cunha has until December 19th to respond to the FA as he aims to avoid a suspension.
The 25-year-old would be very fortunate to get anything less than a three-match ban after “allegedly acting in an improper manner” against Ipswich and that serves as a huge blow to Wolves.
In 16 appearances this term, Cunha has plundered eight goals and supplied eight assists, evincing his importance to the Old Gold.
Without him in the squad, they lose his powerful driving runs and quality in the third with Pereira now needing to find a replacement.
Vitor Pereira must unleash Goncalo Guedes
Cunha’s absence would be a massive blow to their Premier League survival chances, though it could open a window of opportunity for Goncalo Guedes.
Under the tutelage of O’Neil, Guedes was used as a squad rotation player, featuring for just 260 minutes across 13 top-flight appearances this term.
The 28-year-old has only started once in the 4-0 loss to Everton but now Pereira is close to taking over at Wolves, the Portuguese forward could benefit from his appointment.
With just one goal involvement every 65 minutes in the league, including the assist for Cunha last time out, Guedes has made the most of his substitute appearances.
Now, with Pereira deploying an exciting style at Wolves, Guedes will be given a new lease of life and the chance to become a mainstay in the starting XI.
Indeed, while Cunha is serving his ban, the Portuguese star can showcase why he deserved to feature more previously.
O’Neil once dubbed Guedes ‘excellent’, and now it’s time for the versatile forward to show exactly why he belongs in the Premier League.
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