Why Joao Moutinho could be a statement signing from Wolves

According to reports, Premier League new-boys Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed on a £5m fee with Monaco for midfielder Joao Moutinho. The Portuguese will sign a two-year deal with the club.

Moutinho, 31, is the third most-capped player in Portugal’s history, with 113 appearances. A Euro 2016 winner with Portugal, he was also a part of the World Cup squad this summer in Russia.

If the deal is completed, Moutinho will join fellow Portugal internationals Ruben Neves, Rui Patricio and Ivan Cavaleiro at the club, as well as Diogo Jota and Ruben Vinagre, who have represented their country at youth level.

Super-agent Jorge Mendes has proven to be a key for Wolves as he has brokered a number of deals this summer. Moutinho joins the bandwagon of Mendes’ stars at the Molineux as Nuno Espirito Santo aims to make a telling impact in the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Moutinho, a highly experienced midfielder, has spent five seasons at Monaco having joined from FC Porto in 2013. He helped Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2017, having won the Europa League and three Primeira Ligas with Porto. The Portuguese, however, was less impactful at the Principality last season as he managed just a goal and seven assists.

But there are no second thoughts about Moutinho’s quality on and off the ball. He is a player with a penchant for long-range shots and possesses eye-catching passing abilities. The 31-year-old is a workhorse, always giving his 100% on the pitch. He rarely shies away from flying down for a tackle.

The 31-year-old is an ever-reliable and exquisitely talented player with fantastic passing abilities and amazing vision. He is not as fast as he was back in his 20s but is still capable of delivering solid performances, week in and week out.

Moutinho could be the ideal player to partner Ruben Neves in midfield and the Portuguese duo could wreak havoc in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign.

Wolves’ have made some exciting signings in the transfer window and Moutinho’s addition, indeed, would be a bold one. The club certainly needs something different in the middle of the park and knowing Santo’s adoration for possession-based football, the potential signing of a deep-lying playmaker like Moutinho augurs well.

A cultured passer, the 31-year-old’s wealth of experience could come in handy, whilst his presence in the Wolves’ dressing room will make a huge difference.

A winner and a role model for young players on and off the pitch, Moutinho’s acquisition would be a statement of intent from Wolves going into the new campaign.