Wolves look to be closing in on their first signing of the summer, with Fer Lopez set to join from Celta Vigo.
Wolves are raiding the Spanish outfit for the second summer in a row, after landing Jorgen Strand Larsen last year.
On Saturday, Wolves agreed personal terms with Lopez.
Then one day later, Wolves reached an agreement with Celta Vigo to sign Lopez for around £20 million. This figure is more than his release clause, but Wolves wanted to spread the cost and to do that they had to pay more.
It is now a question of when this deal happens, with some suggestions being made that he could be announced later this week.
By many accounts, this is an exciting move by Wolves – and what one of his former mentors has said about him will leave Vitor Pereira very pleased.
Fer Lopez’s former mentor tried to bet on him to make Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad
Some fans have expressed slight concern about the Lopez fee, given he is not that experienced.
Lopez only made his debut last October, and has made just 20 first-team appearances.
But a very interesting feature on Lopez has been published today by Sky Sports’ Adam Bate, which includes a verdict from a former mentor of the player.
Previously, Lopez had a term at Bacton United in Suffolk when he was just 14. Ryan Owens was the coach of their senior side, and had Lopez training with his squad. He was not permitted to play games though.
Paul Grainger, a friend of Owens’, worked at Finborough, the private school near Stowmarket where Lopez had enrolled in the autumn of 2018. He worked with him in one-to-one sessions – and was blown away by him.
He said: “I have seen some of the best players in the world play football. I have never seen a footballer like him. He was literally incredible.
“From the first day, I knew he was going to be a superstar.
“I have already been to a couple of bookies to see if I could bet on him playing for Spain at the 2026 World Cup. I have no doubt that he will become an international footballer. There is nothing missing.”
Fer Lopez will fit right in at Wolves
Some have been sceptical about this move for a player not much is known about.
But the words of Grainger are bound to make many feel better. The whole interview is a fascinating read, and it sounds very much as though Lopez will just fit right in at Molineux.
He is described as being ‘so intelligent’ with very good English, and another overriding feeling you get from the feature is that Lopez is very mature and dedicated.
Hopefully, he can settle nice and quickly – seemingly, he has talent in abundance that could make him a real hit at Molineux.