One transfer target wanted during Gary O’Neil’s reign at Wolves has spoken about his contact with the club.
It seems like an eternity ago that O’Neil was at the helm at Molineux.
The Englishman was dismissed after matchday 16 of the 2024/25 season, lasting until December before Vitor Pereira took charge.
Pereira has transformed Wolves since inheriting O’Neil’s squad, and now, it could be that the manager opts to take on one of his predecessor’s transfer targets.
Christos Mandas in action for Lazio.
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Christos Mandas reveals Wolves transfer plan
Last summer, Wolves were linked to Christos Mandas of Lazio as O’Neil considered options for a new goalkeeper.
The Old Gold, unforgettably, ended up recruiting Sam Johnstone in a disastrous transfer, but that hasn’t ended the pursuit of the Greek goalkeeper.
Interestingly, Wolves’ interest in Mandas was re-documented this month, as the target seems to have been carried over from O’Neil’s reign to Pereira’s.
Some might be surprised by this, but one figure who won’t be is the player himself, who recently spoke about the transfer situation.
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Speaking to Greek outlet Athletiko, Mandas uncovered the contact Lazio had from Wolves last summer, revealing that the Old Gold planned to continue talks after a deal was unable to be struck.
“Last year, Wolverhampton contacted Lazio for me, but the club didn’t want to consider me leaving,” Mandas explained.
“They said they would come back next year. The Premier League interests me, but I won’t move just for the sake of it.”
The goalkeeper’s revelation was interesting as, while uncovering Wolves’ plan to return their interest, he made his Premier League ambition known.
Wolves must sign a goalkeeper this summer
Mandas also made it clear that he’s not willing to make the move to England ‘for the sake of it’, but such should only tempt Wolves to push even harder to sign the 23-year-old.
While Wolves’ plans might have changed given the club’s rebuild in and around the recruitment team, the Old Gold will surely be in the market for a new shot-stopper this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League
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Johnstone is likely to leave just one year after signing for Wolves, and after five years as number one, it’s clear that Jose Sa needs quality competition to avoid complacency.
It’s not only competition that Sa needs, as Wolves must be proactive when searching for an eventual successor to the Portugal international, whose contract expires in 2027.
Signing Mandas during the early stages of his career could be a wise move for Wolves, who have a long-standing interest in the Greece international.