Jose Sa in action for Olympiacos. (imago Images)
According to a report by Daily Mail, Wolves are looking at Jose Sa from Olympiacos as a potential signing in this summer transfer window. It goes on to mention that Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a centre-back, midfielder, as well as a goalkeeper should Rui Patricio leave the club.
Patricio, who was signed by the club from Sporting CP all the way back in 2018, has given three years of good performances at the club. However, he is now eyed by Portuguese compatriot, Jose Mourinho, as a signing at AS Roma.
If Wolves are to lose Patricio, then they need a goalkeeper coming in during the summer. Apart from him, the club only have former Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy as their senior goalkeeper. Ruddy was signed back in 2017 but since Patricio came in, has made only 3 league appearances for the club.
Academy goalkeeper Andreas Sondergaard is apparently not ready to take over the No.1 spot anyway. The 20-year-old Danish goalkeeper has yet to make a single senior appearance for the club. And this is why Sa would come in to fill the gap left by Patricio in a pretty good manner.
It’s not like Wolves would be significantly downgrading in the goalkeeper department if they sign Sa to replace Patricio.
He was an influential part of FC Porto’s title-winning squad in the 2017/18 season where he also played the most matches for the club. And they just conceded 18 league goals that season. Pretty impressive, to say the least.
The report also cites that Sa is rated well in his home country. And at 28, he has plenty of experience behind him. Sa has played 124 games in Greece for Olympiacos, keeping a clean sheet in exactly half of them. This season, they ran rampant, winning the league by 26 points and conceding only 19 goals.
He also European experience behind him, playing in the UEFA Champions League as well as Europa League during his spells at Olympiacos and Porto. He is yet to have a national call-up but at 28, he still has time to achieve that. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Another unlikely way that his signing would be convenient for Wolves and the player himself is the presence of a number of Portuguese players as well as manager, Bruno Lage, at the club. And having the same language as well as cultural background can go a long way in helping any new player settle down fast.
He is also 5 years younger than Patricio, who is valued by the club at €12million. All in all, it seems like Wolves will do good business if they really do end up replacing Rui Patricio with Jose Sa this summer.
