Wolves on verge of £16m transfer agreement to replace Vitor Pereira outcast

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have progressed talks to sign a £16 million midfielder on transfer deadline day.

Wolves are reportedly on the verge of striking an agreement to sign Stade Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi, while Mario Lemina is shifting closer to an exit.

The Old Gold have been keen to move on Lemina throughout January following unprofessionalism and a lack of commitment from the former captain. Vitor Pereira hasn’t been willing to sanction a sale without sourcing a replacement first, however.

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A breakthrough may be about to be found on that front as The Telegraph reports Wolves are close to agreeing a deal with Reims to sign Munetsi. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue for the Zimbabwe international, who has been a staple of Reims’ midfield for the past five seasons.

Separate reports from France this morning suggest Wolves have waiting to hear back on an offer in the same region as the £16.6 million paid to sign central defender Emmanuel Agbadou, also from Reims earlier this winter. Discussions are at an advanced stage as Wolves look to get Munetsi’s arrival over the line.

The 28-year-old is in the prime of his career and is undoubtedly one of Reims’ star players. The French club, currently in 13th position, aren’t exactly lighting up Ligue 1 but that hasn’t stopped Munesti from impressing. Recently named the man of the match in the 1-1 draw away at Paris Saint-Germain, the 23-time Zimbabwe international beat away the pressure on the big stage.

If he signs, Munetsi will become the second Zimbabwean to play for Wolves after Tawanda Chirewa.

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Mario Lemina nearing Wolves departure

Back to Lemina, and the outcast midfielder is reportedly set to join Super Lig outfit Galatasaray. Reports in Turkey suggest a full agreement of between €2 million and €4 million has been reached for Lemina to complete a transfer on deadline day, putting an end to his nightmare final days at Molineux.

The reason the Old Gold even got into this kerfuffle in the first place was because of the rather unacceptable on and off-field antics from Lemina. The Gabon international lost the armband during Gary O’Neil’s final days as head coach after losing his head at full time of the 2-1 defeat away at West Ham United.

Fast forward a few weeks with new head coach Pereira through the door and Lemina very quickly had a desire to leave Molineux. The actual idea of departing wouldn’t have been so harsh had he gone about it in a better manner, but Lemina decided not to turn up for Wolves’ 3-0 defeat away at Newcastle United.

When quizzed about Lemina’s absence from that game, Pereira told the BBC: “I cannot bring a player who comes to me and says he’s not in a condition mentally to help the team, ‘I want to leave’.

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“I don’t know what happened before me, but with this energy and mentality, I don’t need him. I'd prefer to play another player. I don't have anything against Lemina or any issues with him. He said to me that he wants to leave and he communicated this decision one month ago to the club."

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