One Brazilian expert has now given his verdict on a target Wolves tried to sign during the January transfer window.
Wolves wrapped up a largely successful transfer window as Vitor Pereira signed three new players, with Emmanuel Agbadou, Nasser Djiga and Marshall Munetsi all joining.
Pereira prioritised defensive and midfield additions but the Portuguese tactician also looked at multiple forward targets, seeing Wolves try to sign Yuri Alberto in January.
Alberto played under Pereira at Corinthians, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances during that period, with the Brazilian side since slapping a £20 million price tag on him.
With Matheus Cunha potentially leaving in the summer amid significant interest, the 23-year-old forward could be a genuine option, providing Premier League survival is secured.
To gain further insight into what Alberto would offer Wolves, Molineux News spoke exclusively to Vamo Futebol writer and Brazilian expert Rogerio Junior about the talented striker.
- READ MORE: Wolves warned what Arsenal and Aston Villa could do to sign Matheus Cunha in summer transfer window
What sort of player is Yuri Alberto?
The need to sign an extra forward wasn’t pressing as the Wanderers have Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Hwang Hee-chan and Goncalo Guedes as central striking options.
But according to Rogerio, Wolves target Alberto is excellent at running in behind defences, utilising his pace and movement to devastating effect.
“Yuri Alberto is a striker, but he doesn’t usually stay fixed inside the area,” Rogerio said. “He is a more mobile athlete whose greatest strength is receiving passes behind the defence. He is fast and has good finishing. Another characteristic of his is not giving up on plays and his physical commitment.”
Physically, it seems like the Brazilian could be a great fit for Pereira’s flexible attacking system, as demonstrated by how well he did under the manager.
How did Yuri Alberto fare under Vitor Pereira?
Alberto has scored goals everywhere he’s been in Brazil, showcasing lethal finishing in his home country and flourishing under the Wolves boss.
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Corinthians | 157 | 60 | 18 |
| Internacional | 85 | 31 | 5 |
| Santos | 25 | 3 | 1 |
“Yuri did well with Vitor Pereira,” Rogerio said. “But he was still adapting to the team, as he was newly hired. He even had reasonable numbers, with 11 goals and 2 assists in 28 games. But Yuri’s best phase is certainly at the moment.”
Who is Yuri Alberto most comparable to and how could he fare in the Premier League?
When asked what type of striker Alberto is most comparable to in Europe, Rogerio answered with Inter Milan sharpshooter Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine is nimble in possession – much like the Brazilian – but equally a world-class finisher with 144 goals in 316 appearances for Inter, including 15 already this term.
“He definitely doesn’t have the playing style of strikers like Harry Kane and Lukaku, he has more of the playing style of Lautaro Martinez, who moves more in attack.”
After drawing a comparison to Lautaro, Rogerio also shared his verdict on how Alberto could fare in the Premier League, stating he perhaps isn’t ready to join a top-six club, making Wolves the ideal fit.
“I believe that Yuri Alberto is a good name for Premier League teams,” he finished. “I don’t think he’s for big-6 clubs, but he’s still a young player with development potential. He usually adapts easily so I believe he is a good name for clubs that want a movement striker.”