Vitor Pereira is bracing himself for multiple exits out of Molineux this summer, and unfortunately, Nelson Semedo is one star who could leave Wolves.
Semedo sees his contract at Wolves expire in 2025, with interest in the Portuguese right-back growing closer to the transfer window.
Despite Vitor Pereira wishing to keep Semedo, the captain could prove too difficult to keep, as his former club are chasing his signature.
Benfica want to sign Semedo once he becomes a free agent in the summer, presenting the 31-year-old an opportunity to link back up with Bruno Lage.
But whilst Semedo is cited as perfect for Benfica, the Portuguese giants could have already hit a major stumbling block in securing a deal.
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Benfica can’t afford Nelson Semedo’s wages
According to A Bola, the door is open for the experienced defender to return to his former club but he would need to take a pay cut.
As per Capology, Semedo earns £80,000-per-week at Molineux, with that figure reportedly exceeding the amount Benfica can afford to pay him.
So, it appears the Champions League side have already hit a stumbling block in landing the Wolves star, as he would need to take a significant wage reduction to join.
Wolves fans want Semedo to stay, urging Fosun and the Wanderers hierarchy to tie him down to a new deal.
But, it remains to be seen what Semedo’s motive is. He could make a fairytale return to Benfica and play in Europe’s elite competitions, something Wolves can’t offer him, all while taking a salary reduction.
Or, he can accept lowering his salary at Molineux, where he would remain as captain and cement his legacy under Pereira.
Semedo’s dream is to return to Benfica
Since joining Wolves from Barcelona in 2020, Semedo has fulfilled his ambition of playing Premier League football and now become a prominent leadership figure.
Most supporters want him to commit his future to the Wanderers, and perhaps finish his career in England’s top-flight.
However, Semedo’s dream is to retire at Benfica, admitting his lifelong connection to the club after joining Barca in 2017.
“I follow Benfica whenever I can and I would not stop feeling Benfica just because I left. I feel the club in the same way, or even more so because now I am all the more a supporter,” he said.
“Benfica will always be my club, let’s see how things go. Now it is not possible to return, but who knows… It would be good to end at my club, in my city and with the Benfica fans.”
As Semedo is in his early thirties, he may fulfil his ambition of joining Benfica and retiring at the club he adored as a youngster.
That being said, this is entirely dependent on the financial aspect of a deal, and whether he’d be willing to lower his wages to make a transfer possible.