Wolverhampton Wanderers are one step away from sealing their first new addition of the summer as an agreement is tantalisingly close for Celta Vigo winger Fer Lopez.
The Old Gold have been linked with Lopez for a while now but only began motoring on with an attempt so sign him over the weekend. The 21-year-old only made his proper La Liga breakthrough during the second half of the season just gone but that was enough time to impress and attract interest from Wolves.
Our sister publication, Express & Star, reports Wanderers have struck a £19.5 million deal with Celta to sign Lopez. It’s understood the transfer is on course to be completed this week after a breakthrough on Sunday evening. The transfer window has of course now officially reopened after a brief six-day closure.
meanwhile, transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the news, reporting the verbal agreement was very close heading into Sunday evening and that Lopez had already communicated his desire to move to Molineux. Now, following the Express & Star’s update, Lopez can effectively be considered a new Wolves player.
Who is Fer Lopez and how will he fit in at Wolves?
Managed by Gestifute, run by super agent Jorge Mendes and with strong ties to the Old Gold, Lopez is seen as a big talent. Although he doesn’t have the experience to immediately take the reins from the outgoing Matheus Cunha, it’s hoped he can gradually progress towards reaching his potential under head coach Vitor Pereira’s wing.
The Madrid-born forward, predominantly a right winger but also capable of playing in attacking midfield or on the left, is an excellent dribbler who loves to cut onto his preferred left foot. As can be seen by viewing highlights, Lopez is very good at quickly turning away from his man and then either picking out a pass through the lines or having a go at goal himself.
Although Lopez hasn’t racked up much senior experience just yet, he impressed with Celta’s B side, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 51 matches. It’s also promising that he’s managed a goal every 334 minutes in La Liga so far, while his 2.43 dribbles per 90 minutes rank him among the top 12%.
not only that, but Lopez’s dribble success of 58.1% is better than four-fifths of fellow wingers in the Spanish top flight and his 2.69 shots per 90 minutes is bettered only by 17.9%. Those statistics, albeit from a pretty small sample size, are very promising indeed.
As Pablo Sarabia is following Cunha out of the Molineux doors at the end of his contract this month, Wolves will be light on the right wing and Lopez can expect to start matches fairly soon. The likes of Jean Ricner-Bellegarde and Rodrigo Gomes will put forward their arguments to start ahead of him but Lopez will have the whole of pre-season to impress.
Albeit not a big-name signing to kick off the summer, it could end up being an astute one as Wolves take advantage of their relationship with Gestifute and bring in a bright talent.
