Wolves are heading for a big summer and work is already being done regarding bringing new players to the club, but Diego Simeone may spoil one potential plan.
Wanderers have a lot to do in the next window, with several stars set to leave Molineux.
Matheus Cunha will join Manchester United barring any unexpected twists, and the likes of Nelson Semedo, Pablo Sarabia, Goncalo Guedes and Hwang Hee-chan could also depart.
Vitor Pereira could also be losing midfielders.
Tommy Doyle has Championship interest and is highly likely to leave, and we may also see Boubacar Traore head out on loan somewhere.
So Wolves could be in the market for a new midfielder.
And in recent times, Johnny Cardoso is a player who’s been on Wolves’ radar. But there’s been a development which suggests Wolves will now have their work cut out.
Wolves target Johnny Cardoso is a priority signing for Atletico Madrid
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
It has been reported by one of the biggest outlets in Spain, Marca, that Johnny Cardoso has now emerged as a priority target for Atletico Madrid.
It is stated that Atletico have long been trying to find a successor to Thomas Partey, who left the club in 2020 to join Arsenal.
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Partey has been linked with a return to the Wanda Metropolitano. But his high wage demands are said to be a stumbling block.
So Atleti are now looking intently at Cardoso – which is a potential blow for Wolves.
It was claimed last month that Wolves had offered to triple Cardoso’s wages to sign him this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur also have a clause that would allow them to sign Cardoso for £21 million, and they can match any offer above that figure from other clubs.
But Marca do say Cardoso has the final say in where he goes.
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Wolves move for Johnny Cardoso is looking unlikely
The heavy interest in Cardoso from Atletico is far from ideal for Wolves.
The midfielder would potentially make a really good addition for Wanderers, as he’s someone who’s good on the ball as well as tenacious like most of the current options at Wolves.
But Atleti can obviously offer Champions League football, and Diego Simeone is a very high profile manager with a big lure himself.
What’s more, Cardoso has been playing in Spain with Real Betis since last year, and there would likely be less of a transition period if he stayed in La Liga.
Perhaps Wolves may now seek to sign Josh Brownhill as a possible alternative, after he was linked with a move to Molineux once again.