Wolves still have several ways to benefit from Bastien Meupiyou’s rise in Portugal – and the defender himself now sounds increasingly open to a move elsewhere.
After Portuguese reports this month explained Wolves continue monitoring the 20-year-old centre-back’s progress at Alverca, fresh comments from the Frenchman have added another layer to the situation ahead of the summer window.
O Jogo relay an interview where Meupiyou reflected positively on his first full senior season in Portugal.
The defender admitted the experience at Alverca “exceeded expectations” after arriving from Wolves last year. And the club still hold important leverage over his future.
As previously reported in Portugal, Wolves inserted a buyback clause worth under €1m (£850k) when they sold him to Alverca. They are also entitled to close to 50% of a future transfer fee.
In practice, Wolves can either bring him back cheaply themselves or profit from a sale to another club.
Defender hints at bigger ambitions
Bastien Meupiyou did little to cool transfer speculation when discussing interest from elsewhere.
“Like any player, I want to play in the best competitions,” he admitted.
Several European clubs are already following his progress after a season with 31 appearances under Custódio Castro.
The centre-back also explained why Alverca’s young squad managed to exceed expectations this season.
“Solidarity,” he said. “Everyone made an effort and there was great help inside the pitch.”
“Honestly, the start was not easy, but we never gave up and always kept our heads up.”
Wolves connection remains important
Although Meupiyou only played for Wolves’ U21 side before leaving for Portugal, he still spoke positively about his time at Molineux.
The French defender highlighted the chance to work alongside senior players such as Nélson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia during his spell at the club.
In the end, if the club believes Meupiyou is ready for Championship football, the buyback option gives Wolves a cheap route to reinforce their defence. If another club pushes ahead instead, Wolves are still positioned to collect a significant percentage of the transfer fee.
The situation looks like a low-risk position heading into the summer. The club could be happy with whatever comes next.