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Wallace Yan | Getty Images
Vitor Pereira has the chance to boost his Wolves squad this January when the transfer window opens for business
Wolves have endured a tough start to the new Premier League season and find themselves in the bottom three. They turned to Vitor Pereira as their head coach just over 12 months ago. He was picked as their replacement for Gary O’Neil in the dugout at Molineux.
The Portuguese head coach, who has managed the likes of Porto, Flamengo and Al Shabab in the past, managed to keep the club up with relative ease. He will be hoping to do the same again this time around. With that in mind, here is a look at how his strongest starting XI could look after the January transfer window...
Wolves goalkeeper and defence
Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas is said to be on Wolves’ radar this winter, as per a report by Tuttomercatoweb. The Greece international, 24, has two caps to his name and his price tag is said to be in the region of £25million. He has been on the books of his current club since 2023.
Full-back Matt Doherty joined on a free transfer a couple of years ago and the Republic of Ireland international likes to get up and down the right flank of defence. He is an experienced player to have in and around the dressing room. Left-back Hugo Bueno signed for nothing back in 2019 and was loaned out to Feyenoord in the last campaign to get some experience.
In the heart of defence, Santiago Bueno managed to get on the scoresheet against Tottenham Hotspur last month. Ladislav Krejci is on loan from Girona with a view to buy for £26m. He was brought in to boost the defensive department and has made a pretty positive impression. He managed to find the net against Leeds United back in September.
Wolves midfield and attack
Wolves wanted Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney in the last window, according to Sky Sports. Boro are likely to face a battle to keep him in the future and his valuation is said to be around the £25million mark. Rob Edwards’ side are eyeing promotion from the Championship.
Pereira was keen on landing Josh Brownhill this past summer following the end of this contract at Burnely, as per Football Insider. However, he ended up moving to Saudi Arabia to link up with Al-Shabab. If he struggles to settle in the Middle East, the door could open to swoop for him again down the line.
As per Brazilian news outlet Somos Fanaticos (via Sport Witness), Wolves are admirers of Flamengo attacker Wallace Yan along with Crystal Palace, Porto and Benfica. The 20-year-old is being tipped for a bright future in the game. He will surely fancy his chances of a switch from South America over to Europe at some point.
Pereira’s side are keeping tabs on Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia, Ficherio suggest. The teenager put pen-to-paper on a contract running until June 2029 with the La Liga club so they are under no pressure to sell. Up front, Jorgen Strand Larsen was wanted by Newcastle United before they signed Nick Woltemade.
Wolves’ dream starting XI after the January transfer window: Mandas; Doherty, Bueno, Krejci, Bueno; Hackney, Brownhill; Wallace Yan, Garcia; Strand Larsen
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