Wolverhampton Wanderers have certainly experienced a somewhat chaotic month. After manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who guided them from the Championship into the Europa League, departed a few weeks ago, they are now set for further upheaval. Their excellent goalkeeper, the ever-reliable Rui Patricio, is very close to sealing a move to Roma, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Roma Close in on Rui Patricio Signing
Wolves Lose Critical Piece of Their Puzzle in Rui Patricio
Barring this season, where injuries played a part in a disappointing bottom-half finish, Wolves have relied on their consistency. Their solid defence and clinical counter-attacking play led them to the Europa League in just their first season in the Premier League.
A big part of that reliability from their backline came from Patricio. In his three seasons at Wolves, he missed a total of two league matches, which is certainly very impressive. He was a man they could always rely on, and a key part of the core of this Wolves lineup.
He kept 37 clean sheets in 127 games for Wolves and conceded just over a goal per game – both very respectable figures. There were many matches in the past few seasons where he made critical saves to keep his side in games, and he’s always been an underrated keeper in the league.
Wolves are reportedly looking to replace him with Olympiacos’s Jose Sa, a quality keeper in his own right, but he’ll have big shoes to fill at Molineux.
Jose Mourinho and Roma Bag a Bargain
Managerial legend Jose Mourinho, whose last few stints have not gone very well, is eager to prove he’s still got what it takes to take a team to the top. Roma, coming off a disappointing seventh-place finish, seems like a good fit for the Portuguese.
Looking at last season for Roma, they conceded 58 goals in the league alone, a number that certainly needs improvement as they look to challenge for a Champions League place. With Pau Lopez being linked with a loan move to Marseille, the arrival of the Wolves man could be a smart move.
Bringing in Patricio seems like an excellent way to begin the transfer window. At 33, Patricio will not cost more than £10-15 million, and even at his age, that’s a great signing. He’s shown no signs of slowing down, and could easily have three or four more years left at the top level.
While Wolves will rue the loss of their star keeper, they must invest the money wisely and hope that they can get a replacement who winds up having a similar impact on the team.
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