Chelsea and Man City ‘race’ to sign Mateus Mane as offers lined up
Mateus Mane is attracting interest from a number of the Premier League’s biggest clubs including Chelsea after bursting onto the scene for Wolves.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 18-year-old’s performances have placed rival clubs on alert.
Mane starred in Wolves 3-0 win against West Ham last time out in what was just his third ever Premier League start, impressing his watching suitors.
Typically a forward, the England Under-18s star has featured as an attacking midfielder and winger under Rob Edwards and has handled the step up with aplomb.
As a result, “almost every club” in the Premier League has taken note of his displays and could pounce to agree a deal with Wolves likely to be relegated.
Chelsea among clubs tracking Mateus Mane
Brown told Football Insider on 25 December that Wolves are braced for offers for key players as they are edging closer to their inevitable relegation.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Chelsea are among the clubs to have taken note of Mane’s performances.
“Mateus Mane playing the way he has for Wolves is certainty going to attract interest,” he told Football Insider.
“Whenever an 18-year-old bursts onto the scene and puts in some impressive displays in the Premier League, it’s going to attract interest from the bigger clubs.
“You can bet the likes of Chelsea, Man City, those types of clubs will be looking at him.
“Almost every Premier League club will be looking at Wolves at the moment, assessing which players might be available when they eventually go down.
“Wolves then have to make the decision when they go down, will they be able to keep hold of their star players in the hope they can come back up? Or will they have to sell?
“It’s a decision they will have to make at the end of the season, but Mane looks a real prospect at his age, and I have no doubt these clubs will be aware.”
Jorgen Strand Larsen could quit Wolves in January
Brown told Football Insider in October that Wolves fear losing their best players as a result of what has been a dismal season amid growing interest.
One of those attracting a lot of interest in January is Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the likes of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace all keeping tabs on him.
Meanwhile, Brown told Football Insider that Strand Larsen is interested in leaving Wolves in January after being unsettled by the speculation during the summer.
Wolves are set to demand a significant fee for Strand Larsen, having turned down a £55million offer from Newcastle in the summer window’s closing stages.
However, despite a growing expectation that they will be relegated, Wolves are reluctant to lose their most important players and further dent their chances of survival.
For more Wolves and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.