If there is one thing Wolverhampton Wanderers need for the ongoing relegation battle, is a sense of commitment to their fight for survival within their group. This looks like something Victor Pereira he has struggled to maintain during his short time at the club so far, and it was something that former boss Gary O’Neil instilled.
In his first six games in all competitionsthe Old Gold boss has overseen three wins, one draw and two defeats. It was back-to-back Premier League defeats to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. It was a solid start to his tenure at Molineux.
Almost the entire team seems to be on board and ready to fight for survival. However, former club captain Mario Lemina looks destined to leave the West Midlands.
Lemina’s 2024/25 season
It has been a very strange season for Gabon international midfielder Lemina. He started the campaign as a key player for Old Gold and has played 19 times in all matches. At the start of the season, he was also club captain, although he was stripped of the title.
In mid-December, O’Neil confirmed that the captaincy was passed from Lemina to experienced full back Nelson Semedo.
This came after a battle with West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen after their game at the London Stadium. O’Neil confirmed he had “sparked the conversation” about a change in captaincy.
Now, the West Midlands outfit could lose the midfielder altogether, in a situation that has escalated quite quickly. After the 3-0 defeat away to Newcastle United, in which Lemina was not part of, Pereira confirmed it He ‘wants to leave’ Molineux this month.
The new man in the Wolves hot seat explained “with this energy and this mentality, I don’t need him”. The former captain looks certain to leave Molineux just a month after being relieved of his duties as skipper.
Indeed, the Old Gold may well already have a replacement in mind and could make a move before the end of the January transfer window.
Wolves’ dream replacement for Lemina
The player in question here is Chelsea youngster Renato Vega, with reports earlier in the window suggesting that Wolves had asked about a possible loan movewhich was repelled by the Blues. Perhaps, however, taking another approach would be a wise choice for Old Gold.
The 21-year-old has been impressive for Enzo Maresca’s side so far this season, having made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
He has scored twice and assisted once, scoring a goal and an assist against Gent in the Conference League.
He has clearly made a lasting impression on the Blues fans so far, with Alex Goldberg full of praise for the Portuguese star. He explained that “everything he touches turns to gold”, a metaphor of course, but one that shows how well he’s played.
One of the biggest advantages of signing Veiga would be the fact that the Wolves have something of a utility man in their squad. Described as a “Swiss Army Knife” by soccer talent scout Jacek Kuligcan play in multiple positions in defense and midfield.
Indeed, this is certainly the case when looking at the positions he played at former club Basel and, of course, Chelsea. The Portuguese starlet has confidence throughout the defence, full-backs and centre-backs and midfield.
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Veiga games by position for Basel and Chelsea (min. 45 minutes played) |
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|---|---|---|
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Position |
||
|
Center back |
4 |
2 |
|
Left back |
0 |
13 |
|
Defensive midfielder |
14 |
2 |
|
Center midfielder |
6 |
2 |
|
Left midfielder |
0 |
1 |
|
Statistics from Transfermarkt |
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That should be an attractive factor for Wolves, and a reason why Pereira may want to sign his compatriot. Not only would they bring in a replacement for Lemina in midfield, but also someone who can play at left center back in their three-back system.
This certainly seems like the perfect deal for Wolves. It may be difficult to convince Chelsea to part ways with their versatile star, but if possible then it could be a fantastic job for the Old Gold.
