How Wolves really kept hold of £40m-rated star revealed | OneFootball

Wolves were determined to keep hold of Fer Lopez in the summer transfer window, even after the attacking midfielder had initially asked to leave.

Wolves were adamant that they wanted to build their team around Fer Lopez this summer, even after the Spaniard had asked to leave Molineux following their relegation.

The attacking midfielder joined Wanderers from Celta Vigo under Vitor Pereira last year, and there were high hopes for the Spain U21 international.

However, his start to English football didn’t go to plan, as Lopez barely featured, and, when he did, he struggled to make an impact.

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Therefore, with Rob Edwards having succeeded Pereira, it was decided in January that he would return to Celta Vigo, with the situation to be assessed in the summer.

Fer Lopez had pushed for Wolves exit in summer transfer window

Wolves’ embarrassing relegation from the Premier League meant a whole host of players were expected to go, and Spanish media outlet Atlantico has revealed that Lopez wanted to go.

They explain that he was keen to depart, with Celta Vigo once again trying to sign him, whilst Portuguese giants Sporting CP and Benfica were also keen.

Yet, Wolves would not budge on their stance that Lopez was going to remain at the club, and with Cesar Peixoto named as head coach, the report states that he wanted to build the team around the 22-year-old.

So, the hierarchy would not sanction a move, and Lopez, who has a contract with Wolves until 2030, has remained with the Black Country outfit.

Fer Lopez is crucial to Wolves’ promotion hopes this season

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It’s fair to say that the decision to keep Lopez looks like an inspired one from Wolves, as the youngster has been terrific in the opening month of the campaign.

He has two goals and two assists in four games, but it’s not just his productivity that has been so impressive, as he is central to everything the team does going forward.

Lopez is excellent on the ball, but he also appears to have adapted to the speed and intensity of English football now, so he has quickly established himself as a firm favourite with the fans, who recognise that he will be key in helping the team win promotion this season.

Crucially, even though Lopez may have wanted to leave, which was understandable given how his first year had gone, he now seems to be enjoying his football as the number ten in Peixoto’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Fer Lopez could command a huge transfer fee in the future

Whilst the Wolves hierarchy deserve credit for their stance from a football perspective, it is something that will likely pay off financially down the line as well.

The reality is that Wolves would’ve done well to recoup the £19m they paid for Lopez had he gone at the start of the window, but it was claimed in the final days that he had been valued at £40m after his electric start to the season.

Even that seems on the low side when you consider how much potential he has, and, if Wolves do win promotion and Lopez continues to play like this, he could be sold for triple or even quadruple what the club paid for him if he does well in the Premier League.