Pereira must sell “lightning quick” Wolves flop

It is fair to say that this season has not gone to plan for Wolverhampton Wanderers as they continue to fight against relegation from the Premier League.

The Old Gold started the campaign with Gary O’Neil in charge and dismissed him from his duties in December, bringing in Vitor Pereira as his replacement.

Wolves are currently five points clear of Ipswich in 18th place, with 11 matches to playand were dealt a blow at the weekend when Matheus Cunha was sent off for violent conduct on Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

The Brazilian is set to miss three Premier League games due to his suspension, and potentially more pending the FA’s investigation that must be concluded by the close of play on Wednesday, which comes as a big blow given his form this season.

Matheus Cunha’s Form This Season

The former Atletico Madrid attacker has been a shining light in a dark season for Wolves with his fantastic performances at the top end of the pitch.

Cunha, who racked up 14 goals and eight assists in all competitions for the club last season, has already scored 15 goals for the Old Gold in the 2024/25 campaign.

The Brazil international, reportedly on £79k-per-weekhas scored 13 goals from 6.72 xG and racked up four assists from 12 ‘big chances’ created in the Premier League this term.

In his absence, Pereira will need other forwards to step up and Goncalo Guedes is one star who needs to do just that, as his form this season suggests that the manager must finally ditch him from the club in the summer window.

Why Wolves should sell Goncalo Guedes

The Portugal international, who was signed from Valencia for a reported fee of £27.5m in 2022, has not done enough on the pitch this season to justify his reported wages at the Molineux.

Contracted till 2027, Guedes is reportedly on £91k-per-week – over £10k more per week than Cunha – but he has not secured a regular place in the starting XI, despite being the second-highest earner behind Pablo Sarabia (£110k-per-week).

The 28-year-old flop, who was described as “lightning quick” by talkSPORT’s European expert Andy Brassell, has only started seven of his 22 appearances in the Premier League this season and has been fortunate to record four assists, from two ‘big chances’ created and just 0.61 xA.

As you can see in the table above, Guedes has consistently failed to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, at Wolves or out on loan, since his move to England in 2022.

Therefore, given his reportedly huge wages – particularly in comparison to the far more productive Cunha – and lack of end product in the Premier League, Pereira must finally sell the winger in the summer transfer window, if there is any tangible interest in his services.

That is, unless Guedes can take advantage of Cunha’s latest suspension to emerge as a key man for Wolves between now and the end of the campaign to prove that he still has a future at the club. The evidence of his career at the club to date, however, suggests that is an unlikely outcome.