Wolves fans are looking forward to seeing what the club do this summer in terms of transfers – and one very exciting link emerged on Tuesday.
Wolves are hoping to build on last season’s 14th-placed finish in the Premier League, and Gary O’Neil is looking to bring in some quality players.
Rodrigo Gomes is coming in, and he then needs a new striker and a new centre-half.
On Tuesday, Wolves did get linked to a new centre-back.
Apparently, the club have made ‘exploratory contacts’ over David Carmo, who plays for FC Porto and spent last season on loan with Olympiacos.
Quite simply, fans should hope the club get him in – especially if Max Kilman leaves…
Why David Carmo would be a solid replacement for Max Kilman at Wolves
Speculation refuses to go away about Max Kilman. The Wolves captain did recently suggest that he was fairly happy at Molineux.
But West Ham United really admire him and could test Wolves’ resolve with a bid. Manchester United have also been linked.
If Kilman does get sold, then Carmo should be Wolves’ number one target to replace him.
Firstly, he is a left-footer like Kilman which is obviously very handy.
Secondly, Carmo is comfortable operating in both a back three and a back four, which is extremely ideal because O’Neil has used both systems during his time at Molineux.
Carmo is also somewhat similar to Kilman in terms of physical stature. He is 6ft 5in, making him ever so slightly taller than the Wolves man. This allows him to hold his own in the air, as evidenced by his aerial duel success rate of 69% last season (via fbref.com)
Carmo is also a solid tackler. He finished last term with a percentage of dribblers tackled rate of 80% (Kilman’s was 75%).
The Angola international was also good on the ball. He recorded a pass completion rate of 84%, compared to Kilman’s 86%.
Carmo is also a leader
One thing Wolves have placed a lot of emphasis on in recent times with their recruitment is signing the right characters.
Wolves can identify a talented player, but if they are not the right fit for the dressing room then they will not pursue that player.
Carmo is someone who could be a great addition for the dressing room because according to Total Football Analysis, the 24-year-old is a leader. A few years ago they said of him: “When you watch his performances at Braga, two of his standout features are his physique and leadership. His size and strength are immediately apparent. He towers over opposing forwards and has the power to control them physically.
“Equally as impressive as the way he conducts himself on the pitch. Despite his age, he’s a vocal leader with an excellent understanding of the game.”
He is also described as ‘powerful’.
One possible downside is that he does not offer much of a threat offensively, having scored just one goal in his career to date. But ultimately, his primary job is to defend well.
We will see if Wolves will go after him. According to ESPN he has a release clause of £25 million which is valid until the summer of 2025. On the face of it, he does come off as a very decent potential Kilman replacement.