Vitor Pereira won’t get what he wants after Nelson Semedo ‘revelation’ at Wolves
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is now in a position where he can begin to comprehensively plan for next season in the Premier League after implementing a major turnaround.
The 56-year-old has done a remarkable job since taking at Molineux in December last year, when the club looked destined for relegation to the Championship.
Under the Portuguese manager, they have produced a remarkable comeback, with a 1-0 win at Man United on Sunday (20 April) a fifth straight win which mathematically confirmed Premier League survival.
It is understood that Wolves are already planning talks over a new contract for Pereira, although it seems they will find it harder to secure new deals for several key players.
Vitor Pereira set for Nelson Semedo blow
According to a report from The Athletic, it is looking increasingly likely that full-back Nelson Semedo will leave Molineux on a free transfer in the summer when his contract expires.
Earlier this season, Semedo replaced Mario Lemina as Wolves captain, and is said to have been a “revelation” in the role.
It is stated that Pereira is keen to keep 31-year-old at the club beyond this season, but that the chances of the manager “getting his way” on that front are slim.
| Nelson Semedo 2024/25 Premier League stats | Total (as per SofaScore) |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Pass Success Rate | 82% |
| Dribble Success Rate | 50% |
| Duel Success Rate | 48% |
| Clearances per Game | 2.8 |
Elsewhere, Wolves top scorer Matheus Cunha has been heavily linked to Man United ahead of the summer transfer window.
This update states that Pereira is aware the club are likly to lose players in the summer, with Cunha and left wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri both said to be likely to leave.
However, the 56-year-old Portuguese is expected to have a big say in Wolves‘ business during the summer, after success with the signings of Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi back in January.
Wolves must back their manager when transfer window opens
Football Insider Verdict
As things stand, Pereira’s contract at Molineux is set to expire at the end of next season, with his work since arriving at the club highlighting how important it is that they keep him beyond that point.
However, the Wolves manager is going to be facing a significant setback by losing several key players if Semedo, Cunha and Ait-Nouri do indeed all depart.
There is going to be a big challenge to replace such influential individuals, and things will get tricky if they fail to do that.
Pereira is therefore going to want to see that he has the club’s support, something they can show him by bringing in strong replacements who he likes.
If that happens, the chances of the 56-year-old signing a new and extended contract with Wolves will surely only increase.
With that in mind, this summer transfer window looks as though it is going to be hugely important for those in charge at Molineux.