Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly eyeing a move for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas and, according to IlMessagerro, Gary O’Neil and his entourage have tabled a bid – in the region of £17.09 million (€20m) – for his signature recently.
Right-back Pedro Lima, Rodrigo Gomes – in order to replace the departed Pedro Neto –Tommy Doyle and Jorgen Strand Larsen, albeit on loan, have all been snared by the Molineux-based outfit so far.
But, the former Bournemouth boss has additional targets on their radar, especially in the goalkeeping department, after conceding the sixth-most goals in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign (joint with Brentford).
Wolves Lodge £17m Bid for Mandas
Lazio will find offer ‘difficult’ to turn down.
Athens-born Mandas, previously described as ‘exceptional’, enjoyed a breakthrough season for Lazio last term. Despite featuring for le Aquile on just nine occasions throughout 2023/24, the Greece international’s talent has piqued the interest of clubs across Europe.
One of those teams are Wolves, who currently boast a potentially-departing Jose Sa and David Bentley in their goalkeeper ranks at the time of writing. The former is currently O’Neil’s primary choice, having racked up 3,039 in the top division last season, while the latter plays second fiddle.
IlMessagerro, via Sports Witness, have reported that Wolves – under Gary O’Neil’s stewardship – have lodged an offer of £17.09 million (€20m) for his services. In turn, the report suggests that his Serie A employers will find that difficult to turn down.
TuttoMercatoWeb have, however, reported that Wolves face stern Premier League competition from newly-promoted Southampton, who are also looking to add a new shot stopper to their ranks before the summer transfer window closes.
Last term, thanks to Ivan Provedel being Lazio’s first choice between the posts, Piraus-born Mandas racked up a paltry 14 appearances in all competitions. As a result, the aforementioned report revealed that a departure now seems ‘quite likely’.
His lack of opportunity in the Italian capital, therefore, could mean that a would-be buyer – including Wolves – could have a genuine chance at snaring his signature in the coming weeks.
Oumar Soulet Eyed as Kilman Replacement
Centre-back could cost as little as £12 million
Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil watching on from the touchline
While much of Wolves’ focus is on incomings ahead of the new campaign, Maximilian Kilman’s departure to West Ham United earlier in the summer has put them in a predicament with Oumar Soulet eyed as a potential replacement.
According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Melun-born Soulet has been earmarked as a prospective successor for the club’s former skipper, who turned out in excess of 150 times for the Midlands-based outfit – 151, to be precise.
