It was a busy transfer deadline day for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and they certainly needed reinforcements.
The Old Gold have struggled this season in the Premier League, and are currently 17th in the top flight. Their 2-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend saw them climb out of the relegation zone.
However, signing were needed, and the West Midlands outfit made two deadline day additions to strengthen Vitor Pereira’s squad. One of those signings was Red Star Belgrade defender Nasser Djiga, who is the second defensive signing of the window after Emmanuel Agbadou.
The Old Gold also recruited a new midfielder to replace outgoing Mario Lemina, with Marshall Munetsi signing for the club.
Why Wolves signed Munetsi
Zimbabwean international midfielder Munetsi joined from French outfit Reims in the final few hours of the window. He is, essentially, a direct replacement for Lemina, who rejoined Galatasaray for £2.5m.
Munetsi is an experienced operator in the midfield and has played 159 times for the Ligue 1 side over the course of five seasons. The 28-year-old has managed 35 goals and assists in that time, and can play as a number six, a number eight or a number 10. It’s certainly excellent versatility for Pereira to call upon.
This season, the midfielder, who hails from Harare in Zimbabwe, has played 21 times in all competitions, scoring four goals and grabbing two assists. That included a smart lay-off against Paris Saint Germain to create Reims equaliser in their recent 1-1 draw.
There is no doubt that Munetsi, who has skippered the French side at times this season, adds experience and leadership to the Old Gold squad. He cost them a reported £17m, which seems a good price when considering the current market.
As it happens, the West Midlands side have a player who might be even more important in their fight against relegation, and he could be set to star alongside Munetsi.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
The Wolves player worth more than Munetsi
The player in question here is Wolves’ Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes. Despite the fact it has been such a tough season for the Old Gold, Gomes has been excellent again, and a key player in the midfield.
The 23-year-old has played 24 times in all competitions this season, scoring two goals and grabbing two assists. Impressively, he scored and assisted in the Old Gold’s 4-1 thrashing of Fulham at Craven Cottage earlier in the season.
The former Flamengo midfielder, described as a “high-energy” player by football analyst Ben Mattinson, is crucial for Wolves. His ability to break out play in the middle of the pitch, and spring counterattacks for the Molineux side, has been vital this season.
His stats via FBref show just how well he has played in 2024/25 so far, particularly highlighting his importance off the ball. For example, the midfielder averages 4.33 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes which ranks him in the 77th percentile for midfielders in the Premier League. He is simply vital for Pereira’s men.
|
Gomes’ key defensive stats 2024/25 PL season |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90) |
Number |
Percentile |
|
Tackles and interceptions |
4.33 |
77th |
|
Ball recoveries |
5.78 |
71st |
|
Dribblers tackled |
1.31 |
70th |
|
Passes blocked |
1.26 |
81st |
|
Stats from FBref |
||
Gomes’ value has, perhaps unsurprisingly, shot up, which has certainly coincided with his impressive performances for the West Midlands side. According to CIES Football Observatory, the midfielder is worth as much as £44m.
Not only does that highlight his worth to the Wolves side, but it is well over double the amount that they paid Reims to sign Munetsi on deadline day. Given they paid just £15m to sign him from Flamengo two years ago, it is a big rise.
Gomes’ transfer value shows just how important he is for the Old Gold. They have a huge second half of the season ahead, as they battle to stay in the Premier League. The Brazilian, along with Munetsi, will be imperative to their success if they are to stay in the Premier League.
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