Gary O'Neil risks Wolves uproar as £27.5m January transfer touted
Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters are likely to be frustrated by a potential transfer development.
Goncalo Guedes has been tipped to return to La Liga club Villarreal this January due to his limited game time at Wolves.
The winger scored three goals in two Carabao Cup games at the beginning of the season but he’s yet to earn a start in the Premier League. Gary O’Neil has opted for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Forbs instead, with all of Guedes’ 122 league minutes coming off the bench.
Signed from Valencia for £27.5 million in August 2022, the 32-time Portugal international arrived with plenty of promise but he’s not lived up to expectations. Five goals and two assists in 28 appearances ultimately make Guedes a flop at that price, though he has shown signs of improvement this term.
Wolves supporters, frustrated by their side’s disastrous start to the campaign, have often called for the 27-year-old to start matches but O’Neil has refused. It would be frustrating to see Guedes leave again just as he’s getting settled but that appears to be the likeliest outcome.
Spanish radio station Cadena SER reports Villarreal are keen on re-signing Guedes this January after loaning the winger for the second half of last season. The Yellow Submarine squeezed some decent form out of Guedes as he contributed three goals and two assists in 17 La Liga appearances up until May of this year.
Villarreal manager Marcelino has refused to talk transfers until the January window opens but it’s a move that could perhaps make sense for Guedes if he’s not going to be guaranteed starts in a Wolves shirt.