Nuno Espirito Santo turned Ruben Vinagre’s loan move permanent from AS Monaco for £2m in 2018 and the 20-year-old has made a total of 62 appearances in all competitions, contributing five goals.
Vinagre is playing second-fiddle to Jonny Otto at left-back in the Premier League, but he’s been given many other opportunities in the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League which has led to his CIES value rising.
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Vinagre is now worth €10m-€15m (£9.1m-£13.69m), meaning his market value has gone up by 680% in his 18 months as a permanent Wolves player. The Portuguese U21 international has four more years remaining on his deal and could have a bright future at Molineux.
Nuno was full of praise for Vinagre earlier this month too, saying to Wolves’ official website: “He’s growing. It’s our third season already with Vinagre. I think he’s progressing, improving in a lot of things – tactically and technically.
“The talent is there, that’s why Vinagre is massively important for us, because he’s versatile and can give us different things during the game – he’s special.”
As per WhoScored, the left-back has racked up 529 minutes of Premier League football across 13 appearances.
Vinagre has created four chances, completed 76.3% of his 207 passes, won four aerial duels (40%), made 14 successful dribbles (42.4%), blocked 14 shots/passes/crosses, made 14 clearances, given away six fouls and averaged a tackle (20) or interception (8) every 19 minutes.
The 20-year-old has been a bargain buy for Wolves and only takes home £1.5m-a-year/£30k-per-week. He had to contend with a hamstring injury in February but could be breathing down Jonny’s neck if the season resumes after the Covid-19 postponement.
