With Ryan Bennett and Roderick Miranda having uncertain futures, Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the hunt for a centre-back this summer and the Midlands outfit have been linked with Galatasaray’s Christian Luyindama, LOSC Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes, Olympiacos’ Ousseynou Ba in recent weeks.
Vital Wolves named Ruben Dias, Gabriel Paulista, Nicolas Otamendi, Ruben Vezo and Ezequiel Garay as potential transfer-targets, but a lot of supporters from We Are Wolves want to see Dias brought in to strengthen the backline.
Daniel Sandhu: “Ship has sailed I think. Nuno apparently tries to get him. As soon as the likes of Utd get linked we won’t be paying inflated prices.
Richard Jossy Lilley: “Always thought if we got a champions league place, we would get him.”
Gary Brazier: “Would be a massive signing and statement, but unfortunately highly unlikely unless CL football is obtained.”
Harvey Bruce: “Fantastic player, no doubt, but too many big clubs in the hunt. Good defenders are on the lists of most top clubs. If we can get him, hell yes, but it is unlikely we will be able to.”
Lee Negus: “Would be an awesome signing.”
Graham Palmer: “Clubs will not be spending big as they have been financially hit. Wolves, with Fosun, can get some really good deals. Can’t see why Dias would be an exception.”
Mark Beddows: “That’s a big ask. Top-quality player. Real class act.”
Dee Pearson: “Good player. Go get him, but that’s a lot of money.”
Benjamin Taylor: “100% will be a star for Wolves.”
Edd Cooke: “Getting a player like him will make us a Champions League team. Him, Boly and Coady would be unreal.”
Dias rose through the youth ranks to the Benfica first-team in 2017 and has gone on to make 124 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and making five assists.
The Portuguese international has played nearly every minute of every game for Benfica this season – 39/42 appearances, 3510/3780 minutes of football. As per WhoScored, he’s won 51 aerial duels (56.67%), blocked 13 shots, made 66 clearances, been dribbled past only seven times, made 31 tackles and 22 interceptions.
Dias has a €60m asking price and may be attracting interest from clubs bigger than Wolves, so he may be a difficult player to sign.
