Gary O’Neil has made his decision on what Pedro Lima’s role will be next season at Wolves after hijacking Chelsea’s move for the defender.
It’s been a rapid start to the summer transfer window at Molineux, as Gary O’Neil gets to work at bolstering his Wolves squad.
The manager had to navigate through his first season with limited numbers after the horrors of the 2023 transfer window, with this year starting encouragingly.
Wolves have announced the permanent signing of Tommy Doyle as well as the capture of Rodrigo Gomes, with Pedro Lima set to join the duo as another new arrival at Molineux.
- READ MORE: The one crucial factor that helped Wolves to hijack Pedro Lima transfer from Chelsea’s grasp
Pedro Lima will be part of Gary O’Neil’s first-team plans at Wolves
Wolves’ £8.4m capture of Lima was a surprise to many, including Chelsea who saw their attempt to sign the Brazilian hijacked by the Midlands club.
The 17-year-old will sign for Wolves officially on July 1st when he turns 18, with his role at Molineux now speculated.
As per the understanding of Express and Star, O’Neil sees Lima as a player capable of being in and around the first team, rather than at U21 level.
- READ MORE: Who is Pedro Lima? The Brazilian wonderkid Wolves are set to sign who has been compared to Cafu
The report claims that Lima will ‘go straight into’ the first team for the 2024/25 season and is seen as a ‘strong’ option to bolster the favoured XI.
Considering that the teen made a breakthrough only this season in Serie B with Sport Recife, O’Neil has seen enough of his talent to be so convinced of the quality he can add to the side.
E&S also detail that Lima ‘will compete’ with the likes of Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty for a starting spot in the first team as soon as next term.
Wolves might have struck gold with Lima
It’s not often that there is a war between two Premier League clubs in a bid to acquire a low-profile teenager who has just secured a breakthrough.
Lima is an exception, as Wolves and Chelsea have both seen something in the 17-year-old to pounce on dictating where his future lies.
| Per 90 statistic | Pedro Lima | Nelson Semedo |
| Touches in opp box | 3.00 | 1.16 |
| Shots | 1.00 | 0.49 |
| Duels won % | 60.0% | 52.3% |
| Aerial duels won % | 66.7% | 44.0% |
| Interceptions | 1.00 | 1.05 |
| Successful dribbles | 0.71 | 1.48 |
For O’Neil, the chance to unearth the Brazilian is an exciting prospect, given that he can provide the youngster with the capacity to grow to become a Premier League-level defender.
As seen above, there are direct similarities between the playing styles of Semedo and Lima, hinting that the right-back could offer a similar outlet on the flank to the Portuguese veteran.
It’s an exciting time for Wolves and Lima, whose talents have fast-tracked him from the second-tier of Brazilian football to the Premier League.