If there is one thing Wolverhampton Wanderers the need for their ongoing relegation battle, it is a sense of commitment to their fight for survival within their squad. That looks like something Vitor Pereira has striven to maintain during his short time at the club so far, and it is something former boss Gary O’Neil instilled in him.
In his first six games in all competitionsthe old gold boss has overseen three wins, one draw and two defeats. They were back-to-back defeats in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. It was a solid start to his tenure at Molineux.
It seems almost the entire team is ready and willing to fight for survival. However, former club captain Mario Lemina appears destined to leave the West Midlands.
Lema’s season 2024/25
It has been a very strange season for Gabonese international midfielder Lemin. He started the campaign as a key player for Old Gold and rightly so played 19 times in all competitions. At the beginning of the season, he was also the captain of the club, although that title was taken away from him.
In mid-December, O’Neil confirmed that the captaincy was passed from Lemina to the experienced defender Nelson Semedo.
It came after a fight with West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen after their game at the London Stadium. O’Neil confirmed that it “sparked conversation” about changing captains.
Now the West Midlands side could lose their midfielder altogether, in a situation that has escalated rather quickly. After a 3:0 defeat on the road at Newcastle United, which did not include Lemina, Pereira confirmed “he wants to leave” Molineux this month.
The new man on the hot seat at Wolves explained “with this energy and this mentality, I don’t need him”. It seems certain that the former captain will leave Molineux just a month after being relieved of the captaincy.
Indeed, the Old Gold may already have a replacement in mind and could make a move before the end of the January transfer window.
Wolves’ dream replacement for Lemin
The player in question is Chelsea youngster Renato Veiga, with earlier reports in the window suggesting Wolves inquired about a potential credit movewhich the Blues refused. Perhaps, however, going for a different approach would be a wise choice for Old Gold.
The 21-year-old has been impressive for Enzo Maresca’s side so far this season, having made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
He scored twice and registered one assist, he registered a goal and an assist against Gent in the Conference League.
It’s clear he’s made a lasting impression on Blues fans so far, with Alex Goldberg full of praise for the Portuguese star. He explained that “everything he touches turns to gold”, which of course is a metaphor, but still something that shows how well he played.
One of the biggest benefits of signing Veiga would be the fact that Wolves have something of a utility man in their squad. Described as a “Swiss Army Knife” by football talent hunter Jacek Kuligcan play in multiple positions in defense and midfield.
Indeed, this certainly rings true when you look at the positions he played for former club Basel, and, of course, Chelsea. They trust the Portuguese starlet in the entire defense, on the full backs and central defenders and in the midfield.
|
Veiga match by position for Basel and Chelsea (minimum 45 minutes of play) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
||
|
Central defender |
4 |
2 |
|
Left back |
0 |
13 |
|
Defensive midfield |
14 |
2 |
|
Central midfielder |
6 |
2 |
|
Left midfielder |
0 |
1 |
|
Statistics from Transfermarkt |
||
This must be an attractive factor for Wolves and one of the reasons why Pereira could sign his compatriot. Not only would they bring in Lema’s replacement in midfield, but also someone who can play at left centre-back in his back three system.
This certainly seems like the perfect deal for Wolves. It may be difficult to convince Chelsea to part with their all-round star, but if possible, then it could be a fantastic deal for the Old Gold.
