Wolves fans are now bracing for another high profile exit at Molineux, with Rayan Ait-Nouri set to leave the club.
Matheus Cunha has already been sold by Wolves, with the Brazilian joining Manchester United.
Over the last 24 hours or so, speculation has picked up about Rayan Ait-Nouri, who Manchester City are supposedly confident of signing.
Ait-Nouri played down transfer talk when asked yesterday.
But the feeling is that the Algerian’s time at Wolves is coming to an end.
City want to sign him before they begin their Club World Cup campaign, so this saga may not go on for very long.
Wolves are said to be looking for replacements for Ait-Nouri now, but who Pereira plays in his place if he goes should be obvious.
Hugo Bueno’s time has come at Wolves as Rayan Ait-Nouri nears exit
Photo by René Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Photo by René Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Wolves have a ready-made replacement for Ait-Nouri in Hugo Bueno.
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The Spaniard spent the 2024/25 season out on loan at Feyenoord, and despite missing a handful of games through injury, did really well.
He also experienced playing in the Champions League.
Bueno clearly made a big impression in the Netherlands.
Robin van Persie only became Feyenoord’s manager back in February, but was quickly taken by Bueno.
It was claimed van Persie is keen to sign Bueno permanently for Feyenoord.
A Dutch journalist also reported van Persie was very keen to convince Bueno to stay.
But recently, Liam Keen suggested Bueno would want regular football for next season and with Ait-Nouri looking like he’ll leave, that is a distinct possibility for Bueno back at Molineux.
Keen also insisted that Bueno loves Wolves, with the player feeling like the club is a home for him having arrived back in 2019.
Photo by Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Bueno is ready to succeed Ait-Nouri
In the 2022/23 season, Bueno was something of a shining light for Wolves.
It was a poor season for Wanderers, but Bueno made his debut midway through the campaign, coming into the side under Julen Lopetegui after Ait-Nouri was struck down by illness.
He did extremely well, but Lopetegui then left ahead of the 2023/24 season, and Gary O’Neil showed unwavering faith in Ait-Nouri.
Bueno left on loan for 2024/25, but will now come back to Wolves a much improved player.
He got four assists in his 30 appearances there, and interestingly, fbref data indicates he actually finished the 2024/25 campaign with a SCA per 90 (shot-creating actions) metric that was only slightly lower than Ait-Nouri (2.56 vs 2.63).
Bueno has always been known for his crossing ability, and with Jorgen Strand Larsen leading the line for Wolves these days, there is potential for a brilliant new partnership to emerge at Molineux.
It just makes sense for Wolves to bring back a player who is primed and ready to take over rather than gamble on a new signing. The money made from Ait-Nouri can surely be reinvested into other positions, with Rodrigo Gomes to provide cover for Bueno.