Brighton are reportedly now in the fight to sign a Wolves transfer target.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have suffered several setbacks in their pursuit of OGC Nice forward Evann Guessand, with a move to Molineux now looking increasingly unlikely.
Wanderers have been widely credited with a strong interest in Guessand and reports in the past fortnight suggested that talks had been ongoing over a potential £25 million bid. Vitor Pereira is determined to land a new striker to provide support for Jorgen Strand Larsen and Guessand had been listed as a priority target.
The Nice academy product finally became a regular starter last season after several campaigns as an impact substitute and one out on loan at FC Nantes. The 23-year-old showed why he should have been starting all this time as he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances throughout 2024/25.
Brighton swoop in as Wolves rejected by forward
French publication L’Equipe reports Wolves are now effectively out of the race to sign Guessand as the player himself isn’t keen on a move to Molineux. Not only that, but Wanderers’ Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Serie A giants AS Roma are said to have joined the race, moving well ahead of Wolves.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, are pushing to strike a deal with Nice and are plotting a €25 million bid (£21.5m) to land Guessand at a slight discount. The Turkish Super Lig club, managed by Jose Mourinho, might not receive good news, however, as the striker is said to be reticent to such a move.
Wolves must look elsewhere
If it’s true that Guessand has rejected Wolves, then Pereira and the recruitment team will need to look at other options. The good news, at least, is that Wanderers are bound to have drawn up a shortlist of alternatives.
Millwall’s Mihailo Ivanovic may be an option as journalist Richard Cawley reported last month that Wolves have been keeping close tabs on the striker. The 20-year-old, who joined the Lions from Serbian side FK Vojvodina Novi Sad last summer, scored 12 goals in 37 Championship appearances last campaign.
Ivanovic is a promising young forward who has a strong defensive work ethic. The Serbia under-21 international, who stands at six foot and three inches, likes to use his physicality and terrific first touch to hold the ball up and wait for fellow forwards. He’s also quite clearly got a decent eye for goal, too, given his tally of 12 in the English second tier.
Meanwhile, Lazio’s Valentin Castellanos has reportedly been discussed by the Wolves hierarchy. It emerged last month that Wolves are one of the leading contenders to sign the highly-rated Serie A striker who has been dubbed ‘the next Didier Drogba’.
Twice a senior Argentina international, Castellanos was in great form for Lazio last season as he scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 29 Serie A appearances. The 26-year-old did well in the Europa League, too, as he netted four goals and made three assists in 11 games.
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