Vitor Pereira has made his first major signing of the January transfer window.
Wolves recently confirmed Emmanuel Agbadou on a four-and-a-half year deal from Stade Reims.
The centre-back could make his debut against Bristol City in the FA Cup this weekend.
Excitingly though, Agbadou may not be the only defensive signing Pereira makes this month.
Although Wolves remain interested in RC Lens’ Kevin Danso, the club have been forced to compare his attributes and style of play with other targets including Agbadou.
Wolves spot Emmanuel Agbadou and Kevin Danso differences
Despite rating Danso highly, Wolves’ scouts, acknowledging the club may only be able to make one centre-back signing, were tasked with comparing the two defenders.
Agbadou came out on top, and The Athletic claim his ‘aggressive style of defending’ and confidence when ‘playing out from the back’ are the two reasons why.
| 2023-24 Ligue 1 Stats | Agbadou | Danso |
| Appearances | 32 | 30 |
| Starts | 29 | 30 |
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Assists | 1 | 0 |
| Clean sheets | 7 | 12 |
| Interceptions per game | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| Tackles per game | 2.0 | 0.8 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Clearances per game | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| Error leading to goal | 0 | 1 |
| Passing accuracy | 87% | 88% |
| Accurate long balls per game | 4.3 | 2.7 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 6 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Although Danso is a top defender, and one who could still move to Molineux, fans will be loving their scouts’ glowing report on Agbadou and even more so that the Wolves owners were able to conclude a deal.
Pereira decisive in Agbadou’s Wolves transfer
Allowed significant input when it comes to transfer targets, Pereira has been granted a certain level of authority by Wolves.
And the Portuguese manager’s influence in the market has been proven by Agbadou’s capture.
The Athletic’s report adds that Pereira ‘was given a key voice in the decision to press ahead’ with the former Stade Reims star’s signing — a part of his role at the club he will surely be grateful for.
Agbadou’s €20 million signing is Pereira’s first since taking over from Gary O’Neil, and with three weeks still left in the mid-season window, may not be his last.