Wolves interested in signing Dany Mota | OneFootball

Bruno Lage’s arrival at Molineux has been met with a sense of excitement, particularly by Wolves skipper Conor Coady.

The centre-back is one of a number of players linked with the exit door in recent weeks but if anyone is going to stand by the new manager’s side, it’ll likely be him.

On the chalkboard

Lage should be looking towards Coady to set the example during the new season but he will also need a fit and firing Raul Jimenez.

Nuno Santo’s final campaign with the club was marred by a significant spell on the sidelines for their Mexican star.

He suffered a fractured skull back in November and hasn’t played since. Jimenez featured on just 11 occasions in all competitions but crucially, he has made a full recovery.

The forward will have to wear protective headgear for the rest of his career but will be fit enough to return to pre-season once the squad links up after Euro 2020.

Jimenez has been a revelation in the Midlands with 48 goals to his name but it’s uncertain whether he’ll return with the same rich vein of form.

The solution

Wolves have been targeting a new striker ahead of the new season and you can hardly blame them.

Their top scorer in 2020/21 was Pedro Neto on just five while Fabio Silva’s first campaign in English football provided only four strikes.

As for Willian Jose, he beat the goalkeeper once after arriving on a short-term loan deal from Real Sociedad.

He has returned to Spain and is unlikely to make a return. Rafa Mir is also set to leave so Wolves have turned their attentions towards Dany Mota.

Hailing from Portugal, the 23-year-old is typically a client of Jorge Mendes but starred at the recent European U21 Championships by scoring two goals in three outings.

He also outshone another Wolves target in Rafael Leao.

Speaking after the tournament, reporter Zach Lowy commented: “The fact that Dany Mota — a player at Monza — and Gonçalo Ramos — a benchwarmer at Benfica — overshadowed Rafael Leão during the U-21 Euros should serve as a wake-up call for him. He needs to drastically change his mentality or he’ll be leaving Milan sooner rather than later.”

Leao has plenty of desirable traits and has been compared to both Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. However, with the youngster’s attitude proving to be a barrier to his potential, he might not be the best signing for Wolves.

Mota only found the net on seven occasions for Monza last term but judging by the way Jimenez bloomed late, there is a reason to believe he could have a similar impact at Wolves.

After all, he possesses very similar traits to the Mexican sensation.

Discussing Mota during the U21 Euros, Rui Jorge commented: “Dany has been doing an extraordinary journey with us. He is not a very elegant player, one of those players that draws a lot of attention, but he is very valuable for a coach and for a team.

“He is very strong in the air, despite not being very tall, and works tremendously up front and has a goal. Today he scored a fabulous goal.”

Jimenez is also a large threat in the air but with that aspect of his game threatened by the horrendous skull injury he sustained, Mota could be one to take his place in a few years time.

This would be a shrewd signing from the Old Gold hierarchy.

AND in other news, Wolves could find their new Barry Douglas with swoop for “magic” £22m-rated beast…