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Nuno Espirito Santo tipped for future Wolves return amid club’s worrying demise

Wolves’ struggles under Vitor Pereira this season have many fans donning their nostalgia glasses and looking back at the good times under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Of all the managers to take the reins at Wolves in recent memory, Nuno was by far the most successful.

After bringing the Old Gold back to the top flight, he led them to back-to-back seventh-place finishes and a Europa League quarter-final. Wolves players never wanted Nuno to leave.

A far cry from where the club find themselves today. With Pereira’s side rooted at the bottom of the table, there has been speculation around a potential reunion with his predecessor.

Nuno Espirito Santo during Wolves training.
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images

A Nuno Espirito Santo return to Wolves not out of the question

Midlands reporter Tom Collomosse is as clued in as anyone when it comes to happenings around Molineux, and he seems confident that a return for Nuno is well within the realms of possibility.

Writing for the Daily Mail, he remarks: “Only a fool would rule out Nuno returning to Wolves one day. The Portuguese can be inspirational at a particular type of club and from 2017-21, that was Wolves.

“West Ham have little patience with managers and with or without Fosun in charge, it would be no surprise to see Nuno back in Old Gold before he calls it a day.”

Nuno’s start to life at West Ham hasn’t been ideal. He’s yet to notch his first win and currently sits just two points clear of Wolves in 19th. In fairness to the Portuguese coach, their struggles are far bigger than tactics.

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Pereira has the backing of Wolves for now, but if there was a personnel change, surely a Nuno return would appeal.

Pereira or Jeff Shi will take the hit

The buck stops with the manager. That’s how football works.

The anger pulsating from the South Bank on Sunday was directed at Pereira, but that’s because he was there to take it.

Jeff Shi watches on at Molineux.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

If you polled the Wolves fanbase about the biggest problem at the club, Jeff Shi is more likely to be identified as the culprit.

Collomosse takes that stance, claiming his removal could buy favour with the fans.

Shi has been present for the highs of Nuno and the lows of recent times, so you can’t pin the blame entirely on him. But it’s the inaction and poor strategy between those two periods that has sent Wolves to the depths.

The debate over whether Pereira should keep his job is sure to rage on, but if he is dismissed, Wolves could do much worse than to get Nuno back through the door.