'I'm told' - Wolves now 'most likely' to sign 'sensational' maestro; 'agreement' with Mendes

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Wolves are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Joao Palhinha once the summer transfer window opens, with an ‘agreement’ in place for Jorge Mendes to ship the player from Lisbon.

It was reported last week by Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), that the Midlands club had personally sent some of their scouts to watch Palhinha play recently, after his agents had a few approaches for him in January.

Described as a ‘sensational player‘ and an ‘artist‘ by sports journalist Josh Bunting after watching him for Sporting CP in the Portuguese top flight, he is someone that is certain to attract a lot of interest once this season ends – one journalist suggested this week that Manchester United could pip Wolves.

According to Talbot, the Molineux faithful are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Palhinha this summer, although agent Mendes does have a ‘good relationship’ with Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici.

However, Talbot also revealed that a number of other clubs in the Premier League are also ‘in the running’ for his signature:

“Exc: Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Palhinha – heard similar, will be offered to Man United, Spurs, Newcastle, but other Premier League clubs in the running/more likely. Agreement in place with Jorge Mendes to forge a move.

Wolves the most likely, I’m told, but of course, Mendes does have a good relationship with Tottenham’s MD Fabio Paratici.”

With the amount of competition that Bruno Lage’s team are likely to face in the summer, they just need to get this deal done.

Of course, Lage himself knows the player well from his time managing in the Portuguese league with Benfica, while Palhinha was playing for Braga, so if Wolves are pursuing this then the manager must