"Would put my house on this one" - Journalist now drops major Wolves transfer claim on £50m star

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in line to lure Sporting midfielder Joao Palhinha to Molineux this summer, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

The West Midlands side secured a top half Premier League finish and, ahead of the transfer window opening next month, Palhinha has worked his way onto head coach Bruno Lage’s radar.

According to the Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath, Wolves have made an approach for Palhinha and negotiations over a fee are underway.

Reports in Portugal, via the Express & Star, suggest the central midfielder is available for a cut-price fee of £21million despite his Sporting contract having a release clause worth £50million.

But Wolves are not the only Premier League side chasing Palhinha as Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Everton are also understood to be interested.

The 26-year-old first worked his way onto the Molineux radar due to doubts creeping in over whether Ruben Neves will remain on the club’s books heading into next season.

Palhinha has previously gained admiration from Manchester United, who sent scouts to watch him in action for Sporting on a number of occasions.

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Talbot is certain that Palhinha will be on Wolves’ books before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The journalist understands the midfielder’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is working tirelessly to ensure he quits Sporting in favour of a Premier League switch.

Talbot told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m told, with Jorge Mendes, it is a similar thing with Darwin Nunez in that he is basically trying to get him a Premier League move now from Portuguese league.

“He was linked to Manchester United earlier in the season, but I think that was agent generated and more