Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a move for Portuguese midfielder Andre Almeida in recent weeks but the youngster's disappointing form last season suggests he could be another Vitinha at Molineux.

Recent reports have claimed that the Old Gold are preparing a bid for the Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder, who would reportedly cost £9m, as Bruno Lage looks to add to his options in the middle of the park.

However, it is difficult to see what the 22-year-old would add at Molineux, as his performances in recent seasons have been less than impressive.

In the 2021/22 league campaign, Almeida made 31 appearances in the Portuguese top-flight, contributing no goals or assists and averaging a poor 6.63 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He also averaged just 24.3 passes per game last season, whereas both Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were closer to 60 passes per fixture in the Premier League, so it is difficult to see what qualities he would offer Wolves as a central midfielder.

Almeida might have a lot of potential, but he has no experience of the Premier League and struggled in Portugal last season, so it would be a surprise if he was a success in a more physical and competitive league.

His signing would perhaps be reminiscent of the deal that saw Vitinha join Wolves on loan from Porto in 2020, with the youngster going to make just 19 appearances for the Old Gold, the majority of which came from the bench.

He would average a shocking 6.23 rating from WhoScored for his performances, while Nuno Espirito Santo suggested he perhaps wasn't ready for the Premier League, so it was definitely a failed signing.

While he has subsequently gone on to star for Porto and earn himself a move to PSG this summer, Almeida's lack of goals and assists for Vitoria Guimaraes suggests that he will not follow the same trajectory.

If Wolves are to rectify their shocking form from the end of last season and propel themselves up the Premier League table next season, then Lage arguably needs to be aiming much higher with his new signings.

AND in other news: Lage must seal Wolves swoop for £18m machine who's "exploding", imagine him & Neves