Wolves boss reveals recruitment target for this summer
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is eager to sign another left-footed centre-back this summer to give competition to Toti Gomes.
The club were in desperate need of addressing their leaky defence when Pereira took over and they did that by signing the impressive Emmanuel Agbadou, but the squad still lacks depth on the left side.
Toti did well under Pereira and offered balance with his left foot on the left side of the back three, but the team struggled when Toti picked up the occasional injury.
Now, ahead of a summer in which Wolves will aim to rebuild much of their squad, Pereira wants to bring in someone to rival Toti to ensure they do not have the same issues if he is unavailable.
"In my opinion, we need to bring another left foot, because if he's injured, it cannot happen again, the problem on the left side," Pereira said.
"Because to play with the right foot on the left side is a problem. In that position, for me, it's a problem.
"I prefer the left foot to compete with him for the position."
A left-footed player that is returning to the team is Hugo Bueno, following his year on loan at Feyenoord.
Wolves are keen to reintegrate Bueno into the side for next season, but Pereira believes he can impact the team at left-wing-back following Rayan Ait-Nouri's sale to Manchester City.
"Bueno for me is more the guy to go and come back," Pereira said when asked if Bueno could fill in as a centre-back.
"More as a wing-back."
When asked if he is looking forward to seeing Bueno in pre-season, Pereira added: "We'll see. I think so."
Wolves will look to recruit on the left side, amid Pereira's desire for a centre-back and after selling both Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha down that side.
Toti, however, emerged as a key player in the latter stages of the season under Pereira after previously struggling in a back four under Gary O'Neil.
As a result, Toti was rewarded with the captain's armband against Crystal Palace when Nelson Semedo was rested.
Pereira admits Toti is not a loud leader, but instead a strong professional that is an example to others.
"He's not a player to talk a lot," Pereira said.
"He's a player to give the example every day in the training.
"The example is professional, he's very focused in training, he wants to improve, to compete every time, and this is the profile that I like."
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.