Wolves and Nottingham Forest submit 'proposals' for £21.6m-rated gem who dazzled at Club World Cup
The latest transfer news as Wolves and Nottingham Forest see bids rejected for an in-demand midfielder.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly seen an opening bid rejected for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios.
Vitor Pereira is eager to add to his midfield ranks despite already having the formidable partnership of Andre and Joao Gomes at his disposal. The Old Gold recently let Tommy Doyle join Birmingham City on a season-long loan deal and need to sign a replacement. Pereira ideally wants someone who has a great eye for a pass and can defend confidently at the base of midfield.
Rios, who recently shone for Palmeiras at the FIFA Club World Cup, certainly fits the bill. The 25-year-old played in all five of his side’s matches at the tournament and was a standout performer in many of those outings as he notched two assists, won 80 per cent of his tackles, won 6.29 duels per 90 minutes, and wasn’t dispossessed once.
Wolves bid rejected for midfielder
Wanderers were reportedly keeping a close eye on Rios during the Club World Cup and have now seen an official bid knocked back. Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari reports Palmeiras rejected a ‘proposal’ from Wolves worth around €25 million (£21.6m) on Sunday afternoon.
Italian Serie A outfit AS Roma are said to be leading the race to sign Rios this summer and have also seen a bid rejected. The defensive midfielder, who stands at 6ft 1in, could bag Palmeiras a huge profit as the Brazilian club signed him for merely £1 million just over two years ago.
Nottingham Forest also in race
Wolves aren’t the only Premier League club interested in Rios as the same report suggests Nottingham Forest have also seen a proposal turned down. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are said to be the highest bidders at this stage, offering €26 million (£22.5m).
It awaits to be seen if Rios would be keen on leaving Palmeiras this summer and, if so, where he would prefer to go. The 21-time Colombia international has many suitors and he could take his time to decide which club would be best to join for his future career prospects.
Predominantly a defensive midfielder but also capable of playing a little further forward as a number eight or a number 10, Rios could be a versatile option for whichever team manages to land his signature.