da pinup bet： Wolverhampton Wanderers have struggled to comfortably compete in the Premier League this season, however, Julen Lopetegui’s arrival in November has reignited the club’s hopes of survival.
da fezbet： The Spanish manager took over at Molineux after the sacking of Bruno Lage following just one win over his final 15 games in charge, results that left the side in the relegation zone, but Lopetegui has already improved the performances over his first ten outings in all competitions – winning four, drawing two and losing four.
Their improvements in the top flight has seen the side climb into 15th – two points clear of the relegation zone – and if the side can continue to pick up crucial points over their upcoming fixtures it should put them in good stead to comfortably retain their Premier League status at the end of the season.
Although Lopetegui is showing promising signs on the pitch, he will surely be keeping one eye on the summer transfer window as a number of his midfield personnel have been touted with a move away from the club.
Joao Moutinho is set to be out of contract at the end of the current campaign whilst Matheus Nunes has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool. Ruben Neves also continues to be linked with several clubs amid recent concerns that he is unlikely to commit his future to the club beyond his contract expiration in 2024.
When asked by a supporter on Twitter about Neves’ future at the Midlands club, The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley put a dampener on the hopes that the talented Portugal international will extend his stay:
“We can all dream but I’d say it’s unlikely sadly. Neves genuinely loves Wolves. He’s grown up at the club and his kids have grown up in the city. But he’s a 25-year-old Champions League-level player who needs to maximise his talent. Sad but understandable.”
Although it is clear that Neves is being tempted away from the club with links to the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona and Newcastle United, the progress and ambition Lopetegui displays over the remainder of the season could be an opportunity to keep hold of the Wolves star.
The £50k-per-week talent – who was once dubbed “outrageous” for his technique by journalist Tom Barclay – has been a constant source of creativity and consistency in the centre of the pitch at Molineux over his time with the club and has played a huge part in their progression from mid-table in the Championship to a top half finishing side in the Premier League.
Over 20 league appearances this season, Neves has scored five goals and successfully completed 54% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.9 shots on goal, 1.4 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 2.6 clearances as a marker of his all-round capabilities.
Not only that, the 25-year-old ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots in total, passes attempted, interceptions and clearances, proving that he is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe right now and a hugely valuable asset to Wolves.
With that being said, if Lopetegui can convince Neves to commit his future to the club beyond his current contract it would surely be his finest masterclass at Wolves yet. Indeed, such an eventuality would put them in a fantastic position to reach their goals and ambitions in the next few years.