Permanent Trincao switch to Wolves under threat as club makes winger a ‘priority’

Wolves are reportedly facing competition from Sporting Lisbon in their hopes of making Francisco Trincao a permanent player at Molineux.

The right winger left Barcelona last summer in search of more first-team experience. Wolves won the race for his signature by capturing him on a season-long loan deal.

According to transfermarkt, it cost Bruno Lage’s side £5.4million. They have the option to make his transfer permanent for £25m at the end of the season, too.

Trincao has shown his class in certain matches but hasn’t been able to perform consistently during his debut Premier League season.

He has notched three goals and one assist during 28 matches in all competitions so far. The most recent of those goals came in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.

It remains to be seen if Trincao – a seven-time Portugal international – has done enough to earn a permanent Wolves move.

Lage may think the player can reach a new level in 2022-23 after adapting to English football this term.

But it seems Wanderers have a rival to complete Trincao’s signing. According to Sport Witness, who cite Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the 22-year-old is a summer target for Sporting Lisbon.

Ruben Amorim, who led Sporting to their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years last season, has made the capture of Trincao a ‘priority’.

They pair have an existing relationship. Trincao played under Amorim at Braga before joining Barcelona in August 2020.

Sporting know Wolves have the option of buying the wide man but remain confident of completing a deal with Barca.

That’s because Wolves have apparently signalled their intention not to sign Trincao on a permanent basis this summer. As such, Sporting will seemingly have a free run at the star.

The Portuguese club