One of Gary O’Neil’s most relied-upon players at Wolves has reportedly emerged as a target for clubs in Saudi Arabia, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed today.
Fans are expecting a few outgoings this summer, with Pedro Neto and Rayan Ait-Nouri the players to have had the most inches in the gossip columns.
Neto could depart with a host of top clubs on his tail, although his injured record may put some off. Algeria international Ait-Nouri was recently named as the Wolves player currently attracting the most attention, after a stellar season.
The likes of Max Kilman and Joao Gomes have also been linked with other clubs over the past couple of months or so.
But it has now been suggested that another player from Molineux is being targeted – by clubs from Saudi Arabia…
Clubs in Saudi Arabia now keen on Wolves star and Gary O’Neil favourite Nelson Semedo
It has now been reported by journalist Ben Jacobs on X that Nelson Semedo has emerged as a target for clubs in Saudi Arabia.
He wrote in a thread: “West Ham pair Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma are on Saudi clubs’ radar. Wolves’ Nelson Semedo is another player being tracked.”
Semedo currently has a contract with Wolves that runs until the summer of 2025. Last summer, the player’s deal was about to expire, but the club triggered their option for a further two years.
Semedo is one of the highest-earning players at Wolves on around £80,000 per week.
Between his initial £29 million transfer fee and his wages, the club have invested a lot of money in him. But Semedo has been fantastic on the whole this season, and most fans would likely hope that he sticks around.
That said, everyone knows the kind of money Saudi clubs are capable of offering.
Of course, Wolves have already done business with one Saudi club, when they sold Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal last summer for £47 million.
Wolves will surely hear offers, despite Semedo’s great season
This one will be interesting to watch, because Semedo has had his best season to date for Wolves.
He, like a lot of his teammates, has thrived under Gary O’Neil and is surely now up there with the top right-sided defenders in the Premier League.
But one would imagine Wanderers would still be willing to hear offers for the Portugal international, who turns 31 in November.
Ultimately, Fosun want Wolves to be self-sustaining. If a big-money offer comes in from Saudi for Semedo, it could well be accepted if the player wants to go.
That would boost Wolves’ transfer kitty, and potentially help to stop other players from leaving.
But O’Neil might be against an exit for Semedo, because he is a player he absolutely adores. That is evident by the 3275 minutes O’Neil has handed him this season. O’Neil also did admit publicly in March that he was ‘a big fan’ of the star.
