Wolves have announced the signing of Rodrigo Gomes, a player who could offer Gary O’Neil something different to Pedro Neto.
After the lows of last summer’s transfer window, Wolves have got to work early in 2024, with two signings already confirmed at Molineux.
The permanent capture of Tommy Doyle represented the first official signing of 2024/25, with Rodrigo Gomes announced as a new arrival this week.
The 20-year-old arrives from Braga after an impressive loan spell at Estoril over the 2023/24 calendar, with many thrilled at his arrival.
Deployed in the wide areas, Gary O’Neil admitted that the youngster’s enthusiasm attracted him to secure his signature.
Aside from being a hard-working talent, Gomes can offer a host of attributes to O’Neil’s side, including something that differs from other wingers at the club.
What Rodrigo Gomes can offer to Wolves that Pedro Neto cannot
Naturally, comparisons between Gomes and Pedro Neto have started to circulate, as the 20-year-old followed in the Wolves star’s footsteps, rising from Braga’s academy.
That being said, the new signing has his own style despite being positionally comparable to Neto.
The 2023/24 campaign was decisive for Gomes’ next step in his career, as he starred on loan at Estoril in Liga Portugal, rising as one of the most exciting young talents.
Intriguingly, the £12.7m arrival can offer O’Neil something unique to Neto, something that the Portugal international does not offer at Wolves.
As seen above, Gomes provides significantly better defensive cover on the flank than Neto, based on their respective 2023/24 league seasons.
Of course, the Wolves star was not expected to fulfil defensive tasks however, in having an additional defensively capable forward in the side, O’Neil can be more flexible with where he deploys Gomes.
It’s an interesting prospect for the Wolves boss, who now not only has a player offensively similar to Neto, but a figure who can provide an entirely alternative outlook on play.
Gary O’Neil can use Gomes in an array of positions
Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs detailed Gomes’ versatility, explaining that the new signing is capable of playing on either flank and in the number 10 role.
Added to that, the 20-year-old’s defensive strengths last season came from him playing on the right side of a midfield, supporting a back three, similar to the role played by Nelson Semedo at Molineux.
O’Neil will be excited by Gomes’ flexibility in position, with several areas now able to be covered as a result of acquiring the highly-rated starlet.