With the transfer window now open, Vitor Pereira has reportedly asked Wolverhampton Wanderers chiefs to sign a Brazilian defender who has a release clause worth £22m.
Matt Hobbs leaves the club
Whilst Wolves will be keen to get their summer business underway as soon as possible, especially after losing Matheus Cunha and watching on as Rayan Ait-Nouri attracts interest from Manchester City, the departure of Matt Hobbs may delay things. Without their sporting director, the Midlands club are set to restructure behind the scenes ahead of Pereira's first summer in charge.
The club released a statement on Hobbs' exit, which read: "Wolves can confirm that sporting director Matt Hobbs has left the club by mutual consent as part of a wider restructure of the football department.
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"Hobbs, who joined Wolves in 2015, has spent the past decade working across a number of key football roles at the club, including chief scout, head of recruitment and most recently as sporting director.
"The club extends its sincere thanks to Matt for his contributions throughout his time at Wolves and wishes him the very best for the future. Further updates on the new football leadership structure will follow."
Of course, it's not the only change taking place in the Midlands. Having already lost Cunha to Manchester United, reports are now indicating that Wolves are likely to lose Ait-Nouri to Manchester City in the coming weeks.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri
Losing arguably their two best players in the same summer, Wolves must now get things right on the incomings front. Pereira will be desperate to see his first season in charge build on the progress that he's already made at Molineux and that means a mid-table finish instead of another nervy relegation battle.
The one positive is that Wolves should have money to spend and money that Pereira is already reportedly keen to put to good use.
Pereira asks Wolves to sign Renan
According to UOL, as relayed by Molineux News, Pereira has now directly asked Wolves to sign Robert Renan, who he worked with during his time in Saudi Arabia and at Corinthians. The 21-year-old defender now reportedly has a release clause worth £22m at Zenit St. Petersburg and, after spending the season on loan at Al-Shabab, could yet be on his way to the Premier League.
Robert Renan under Vitor Pereira Record (via Transfermarkt)
Games 25
Wins 13
Draws 5
Defeats 7
Still just 21 years old, Renan has found himself at the centre of impressive praise for how he's risen through the ranks in recent seasons. That includes from U23 scout Antonio Mango, who praised the defender for his "great mobility and acceleration" in 2023.
Two years on from that praise, the young centre-back has only upped his game, which could leave him in line for his biggest opportunity yet. Pereira knows him well and Wolves have money to spend, which means that Renan's arrival could make perfect sense for all parties this summer.
Having reportedly requested the Brazilian's arrival, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Pereira gets his wish at Wolves in the coming months.