Just like that, football is in a whole world of danger. The news that a European Super League has been formed by a number of Europe’s top teams has rocked the sport like no other story.
For Wolves, this will be a meaty blow. Jeff Shi has ambitions of dining at the top table with the Old Gold but if an eventuality like this occurs, it will put those plans in turmoil.
Football owners up and down the country should be fearful. What will happen to their businesses if something like this happens? Shi and Fosun Group will understandably be sweating.
What happens next is anyone’s guess but the transfer window could be impacted significantly.
Wolves had targeted a number of players from around Europe including Goncalo Guedes and Lucas Ocampos. They have also targeted Carlos Vinicius.
A rumour like this fortunately gives us the opportunity to get back to on-field action and away from politics for a moment. That’s primarily because Vinicius would be a stellar signing.
Wolves have tried to sign him on two occasions, last summer and in January, but with Spurs unlikely to utilise their option to buy the Benfica forward, the Molineux outfit could finally get their man.
It’s thought the Portuguese side will accept around £26m for his services; a mere snip for a player of his qualities.
Just imagine what he could do alongside a player of Pedro Neto’s calibre. Neto may well be ruled out for the next six months with a broken knee cap but he has been not only Wolves’ top scorer this term, but also their chief creator on ten goal involvements.
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With Raul Jimenez out injured – another of the club’s long-term absentees – Neto has taken on the burden well but with the Mexican in the side, there is no doubt his numbers would look even more impressive.
That’s why a move for Vinicius could benefit him enormously. At the age of 26, he is approaching the prime of his career and despite a rocky spell at Spurs, has still scored ten times.
That adds to a tally of a 24 strikes in 47 games for Benfica last season. For context, that is far more than Fabio Silva netted in Iberia throughout 2019/20; he scored only three goals.
Neto has become one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League but has been held back by Wolves’ misfortune in attack. Add Vinicius to their forward line and he could become even better.
After all, the Spurs loanee has many desirable traits. Jose Gomes, his former manager at Rio Ave, once commented: "He's a powerful player, and very intelligent.”
“He shoots with enormous power with his left foot. He protects the ball really well,” Gomes added.
With Jimenez approaching the age of 30, it would wise to find a striker in their prime. Silva is still too young to carry the workload and Willian Jose looks unlikely to enter permanently after one goal since arriving.
This signing could kickstart Wolves’ attack in scintillating style.