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Inside Wolves' summer plans for a Vitor Pereira-led transformation
Inside Wolves' summer plans for a Vitor Pereira-led transformation

Telegraph

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Telegraph

Inside Wolves' summer plans for a Vitor Pereira-led transformation

Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on a £28 million double deal for Jhon Arias and Marc Pubill as Vitor Pereira ramps up preparations for his second season at Molineux. Pereira's transformation of Wolves over the second half of last season was a stirring story that rather went under the radar outside of the city, with the mantra of ' first the points, then the pints.' He is determined to end the club's recent tangles with relegation and Arias, the Colombia international, will be the second new signing of the summer. The attacker joins £19 million capture Fer López in Pereira's reshaping of the squad with Pubill, the Almería right-back, lined up as the preferred replacement for Nelson Semedo, who has left the club. Wolves have made a bid for Pubill and are hopeful of completing a transfer later this week. Wolves' other priorities are a left-sided wing-back, a forward and another central midfielder to compete with the excellent André and João Gomes. Pereira has boosted his coaching team with the arrivals of Bruno Moura and Filipe Almeida. Talks over an improved contract are likely to start next month but, for now, he knows more signings are required. In what has proved a recurring theme over the past few years, Wolves' start to the summer was dominated by sales. Matheus Cunha departed after his £62.5 million release clause was triggered by Manchester United, while Rayan Aït-Nouri joined Manchester City for a total fee of around £35 million, which drew more criticism of owners Fosun. Aït-Nouri's £35m sale unpopular Cunha's sale was not the hammer blow many outsiders would have perceived. Voted Wolves' players' player of the season, he is undoubtedly a star, but it is a misconception that the club were hugely worried about him moving on. Every manager, including Pereira, criticised his lack of defensive running. There was an alarming statistic that he walked more than any player in the Premier League last season. When he was punished with a four-game suspension towards the end of the campaign, Wolves won three and drew one of those matches without him in the team. The sale of Aït-Nouri, however, did not go down well with many fans, primarily for the price. The Algeria international had a year left on his contract, with Wolves holding an option to extend it for a further 12 months, but the fee was lower than the £40 million paid by Liverpool to Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez. It is understood that Wolves did hold initial talks with Aït-Nouri over a new deal, with Pereira reluctant to lose another guaranteed starter. However, Aït-Nouri made it clear that, while he was happy to stay, he would not sign a new contract, and Wolves had no intention of allowing him to run his deal down. A more dynamic way of playing Semedo, last season's captain, has also left the club after his contract ended, but Wolves do not intend to allow any more high-profile exits. André and Gomes, their key midfield pivots, are regarded as fundamental to Pereira's game model and not for sale. Peripheral players will move on throughout the window but the focus will now be on incomings. Pereira wants his team to be stronger and more dynamic in attack and to find new ways to unlock teams. Arias and López are clearly very different No 10s who Pereira feels will make a difference. Off the field, there have been significant changes. Fosun have restructured their football operations, with sporting director Matt Hobbs replaced by Domenico Teti as the rebranded director of professional football. Teti was with the squad at last week's training camp in Portugal and already has an excellent existing relationship with Pereira from their time at Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab. It is understood that Teti has made a positive impression on players and staff, increasing the levels of internal communication and collaboration. He is the conduit between all areas of recruitment, leading on negotiations and working on a number of targets. Fosun, the Chinese conglomerate who have owned Wolves since 2016, recognise they made too many mistakes last season. They retained head coach Gary O'Neil for too long, eventually sacking him in December after just three wins in 26 league matches. The club hierarchy also know the squad was not balanced enough after the summer transfer window. The absence of another centre-half was an error of judgment even before Yerson Mosquera's season-ending injury in late September. Wolves' financial position remains stable, and they will post a profit for last season. The aim remains to be self-sustainable and while there is no expectation that Fosun will suddenly increase the level of investment, funds will be made available for chosen targets. There is an acceptance that Wolves' most shrewd signings over the past two or three years have been at 'mid-range' fees. Signings such as Gomes (£12 million), André (£18.8 million), Jorgen Strand Larsen (£25.6 million) and Emmanuel Agbadou (£15 million) perfectly encapsulate the club's business model. Arias, 27, is a player who Pereira has admired for some time from his time in Brazil. The deal took a little longer than expected because of the Club World Cup and Fluminense delaying talks amid a backlash from their own fans. Esta maravilla de Jhon Arias. 🎯😎 #FIFACWC — Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 18, 2025 Lopez, 21, was initially tracked through Celta Vigo's B-team by Wolves' regional co-ordinator in Spain. Senior representatives attended his La Liga debut in December and then watched most of his games over the second half of last season. Pereira and Wolves want motivated players who do not view the club as a quick stepping stone. Perhaps that has been an issue in the past. Fosun also want to implement a more balanced wage structure, feeling it has become bloated over the last few seasons. Cunha, Semedo and Pablo Sarabia all earned in excess of £110,000 a week last season. Past players including João Moutinho, Raúl Jiménez and Diego Costa have also been paid over £100,000 a week. While a lucrative offer was made to Semedo in an attempt to make him stay, Wolves ideally want to move away from that level of salary. For now, Wolves need to build on the feel-good factor generated by Pereira and give him the tools for the season. With promoted teams spending millions on new players, including Sunderland with an outlay of over £100 million so far, Wolves cannot afford to stand still or become complacent.

Jhon Arias Deserves $20 Million Premier League Transfer
Jhon Arias Deserves $20 Million Premier League Transfer

Forbes

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Forbes

Jhon Arias Deserves $20 Million Premier League Transfer

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 17: Jhon Arias of Fluminense greets fans after the match between ... More Fluminense and Cruzeiro as part of Brasileirao 2025 at Maracana Stadium on July 17, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by) Reports suggest that a $20 million transfer for Jhon Arias has been completed. The Colombian will move from Fluminense to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. On Thursday night Arias waved farewell to fans in his last home game as a Fluminense player, after the Rio de Janeiro team was defeated 2-0 by new league leader Cruzeiro. Jhon Arias Has International Pedigree Jhon Arias shone for Fluminense, who defeated Inter Milan on the road to the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup semi final. Arias was voted in the team of the tournament and scored a wonderful free-kick in the group stages. It was one for the highlight reel and turned heads worldwide, but as ever his all-round play was the most impressive, helping him to earn this lucrative move. Arias was also crucial when Fluminense won its first ever Copa Libertadores title in 2023, playing 13 games and providing five goal contributions during that continental campaign. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 4: Jhon Arias celebrates with his teammates after winning Boca ... More Juniors during the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2023 between Fluminense and Boca Juniors at Maracana Stadium on November 4, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Daniel Castelo Branco/Eurasia) Since debuting for Colombia on June 5th 2022, Jhon Arias has appeared 29 times for the national team and been a key component in a squad enjoying it's best run of form for many years. Alongside the likes of Luis Díaz of Liverpool and Richard Ríos of Palmeiras, Arias has and Colombia have enjoyed a two-year cycle of great success. Colombia has defeated Brazil and Argentina recently as well as making it to extra-time against Argentina in the 2024 Copa America final. TOPSHOT - Colombia's forward #07 Luis Diaz (L) celebrates with teammate forward #11 Jhon Arias after ... More scoring his team first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Colombia and Paraguay at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images) Now Arias has helped his nation to the verge of FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification. Just one game away from glory, Colombia can return to the biggest stage after missing out on the 2022 World Cup, and on current form Arias will be one of the first names on the team sheet. A Deserved Move To The Premier League Arias is a gifted footballer who usually operates on the right for Fluminense or Colombia but is capable of playing on either flank or in the midfield. His domination of the basics and 'soccer IQ' means Arias is a very adaptable player who is both dangerous in attack and reliable in defence. Arias reminds me of Gini Wijnaldum at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. Wijnaldum played more centrally but the ability that stands out the most is the same. The capacity to keep hold of the ball under almost any circumstance. ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Jhon Arias #21 of Fluminense FC runs with the ball while under pressure ... More from Ruben Neves #8 and Joao Cancelo #20 of Al Hilal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter final match between Fluminense FC and Al Hilal at Camping World Stadium on July 04, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) The Colombian can have three or four men around him and still manage to wriggle out with possession. Whether it's darting down the wing to create a chance, or getting his team out of a tight situation at the back. He is a cool head in tense situations and knows when to speed up an attack or slow down the play. Arias has already played 35 games of club football this calendar year and twice been on international trips with Colombia. He hasn't had a break since January, and now has a Premier League preseason and 10 months of football to contest with. MIAMI GARDENS, UNITED STATES - JULY 15: Julian Alvarez of Argentina battles for the ball with Jhon ... More Arias of Colombia during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 15, 2024 in Miami Gardens, United States. (Photo by Pablo Morano/) It will be a big physical test for the winger. Especially when you consider that this run culminates in the FIFA 2026 World Cup which is likely to be the proudest moment of Arias' career. Although the player will surely be excited at what is to come. He has been an incredible servant to Fluminense and really deserves this move. Despite being technically gifted Arias is also one of the hardest workers on the team. With and without the ball Arias appears to cover every blade of grass, and on many recent occasions he has held this Fluminense team on his back. Hopefully a strong South American contingent in the Wolves' squad, including ex-Fluminense teammate André, can make Jhon Arias feel at home. It will be interesting to see how quickly the Colombian can find his feet in the Premier League and start making an impact. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 17: Jhon Arias #21 of Fluminense FC receives the man of the match ... More award following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group F match between Fluminense FC and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on June 17, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Wolves sign Club World Cup star Jhon Arias from Fluminense
Wolves sign Club World Cup star Jhon Arias from Fluminense

UPI

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • UPI

Wolves sign Club World Cup star Jhon Arias from Fluminense

Jhon Arias of Fluminense logged a goal and assist in the Club World Cup. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- Wolves agreed to a transfer agreement with Fluminense for Club World Cup star Jhon Arias. Sources told ESPN, Fabrizio Romano and RCN Radio about the agreement Thursday. Fluminense is to receive $34.1 million for 90% of Arias' rights. The Colombian winger appeared in six games during Fluminense's run to the Club World Cup semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions Chelsea. The 27-year-old winger logged a goal and assist at the tournament. Arias, who joined Fluminense in 2021 from Colombia's Santa Fe, totaled 47 goals and 55 assists over 229 total appearances for the Brazilian club. Fluminense is set to face Cruzeiro on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. The tricolor went 6-3-2 through their first 11 appearances this season in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. Wolves went 12-20-6 last season to finish 16th in the Premier League standings. FIFA Club World Cup: Chelsea defeats Fluminense Players for Chelsea F.C. pose for a team photo ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup semifinal match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 8, 2025. Chelsea defeated Fluminense F.C. 2-0. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo

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