Premier League Transfer Shock: Wolves Star Nears £38m Aston Villa Move Amid Bigger Club Debate…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing for life back in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League.

After a nightmare season that saw them relegated from the Premier League with a total of just 20 points, Wolves parted company with head coach Rob Edwards last month, replacing him with Cesar Peixoto, who left Portuguese side Gil Vicente to take over at Molineux.

The Midlands outfit had already made two new signings prior to Edwards’ shock exit, with Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez arriving on free transfers after leaving Newcastle United and Fulham respectively, and they completed their third addition of the summer this week as winger Rafiki Said made a £7.7 million move from Standard Liege.

While much of Wolves’ business so far has been focused on incomings, they are likely to lose some of their stars following relegation, and midfielder Joao Gomes looks set to become the first high-profile departure.

Gomes, who has scored eight goals and provided six assists in 130 appearances for the club since joining from Brazilian outfit Flamengo for £15 million in January 2023, seemed to be closing in on a move to Atlético Madrid after agreeing personal terms with the Spanish giants earlier in the summer, but the deal collapsed after Diego Simeone turned his attention to other targets.

With a move to Atlético no longer on the cards, Gomes is set to remain in English football and make the switch back to the Premier League after Wolves’ Midlands rivals Aston Villa agreed a £38 million deal for the 25-year-old.

When asked for his thoughts on Gomes’ imminent exit, FLW’s Wolves fan pundit Thomas Woodhall insisted that, while it hurts to see him join one of the club’s biggest rivals, he holds no resentment towards the midfielder for making the move to Villa Park.

“I’d rather him have gone abroad than see him especially this close to home, but I think he deserves a bigger move,” Thomas told FLW.

“Villa, at the moment, are undeniably in a good place, as much as I hate to admit it.

“They are doing really well.

“It is a step up for his career, which is what he deserves.

“He’s not spat his dummy out or thrown his toys out of the pram, he’s been really professional.

“He even travelled with the team to Portugal, which shows the level he’s at and the person he is.

“The fee is about what you’d expect considering we got relegated, but obviously you always wish it would be more, especially in the day and age we’re in with how much players are going for.

“Realistically, where else was he going to go?

“Is he at the level for Liverpool or Man City?

“It’s a tough one to take, but like I say, there’s no ill feeling towards him, he’s done whatever he could.

“I think it’s a good move for him, and maybe we can finally start getting some business done, so let’s see.”

Gomes was one of Wolves’ standout performers during their horror relegation campaign last season, so few supporters would begrudge him a big move this summer, but many would have been hoping to see him go abroad rather than representing another English club.

The fact that Gomes is set to join Aston Villa will particularly sting for the Molineux faithful, but the opportunity to play Champions League football with the Europa League winners is too good for the Brazilian to turn down, and he will likely be a regular for Unai Emery’s side after Youri Tielemans departed for Manchester United.

Wolves will be disappointed to lose Gomes, but the deal being done early in the summer gives them plenty of time to reinvest the £35 million from his sale into the squad, and finding a replacement for the outgoing midfielder will be one of the club’s biggest priorities in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.