Wolves told why 5-goal star is 'worth more than a fee' after £40m exit talk | OneFootball

Fer Lopez has been one of the Championship's leading lights after a summer of strong exit talk

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made an impressive start in their aims of achieving a first-time promotion back to the Premier League under Cesar Peixoto, with the creative forces at the Portuguese's disposal, in particular, playing a starring role.

The Old Gold and Black sit fourth in the Championship during the first international break of the campaign, having amassed 14 points from their opening seven encounters, albeit they also have a game in hand over the other early-season pacesetters.

A tally of 15 goals from those games can only be bettered by Southampton and West Ham United so far, and much of what Wolves have been good at so far this term has run through Spanish playmaker, Fer Lopez.

The 22-year-old was signed by Vitor Pereira last summer from Celta Vigo, but after enduring a difficult induction period to the English game, returned to his former side on loan in January and was the subject of transfer interest from clubs across Europe this summer.

However, the playmaker is currently the toast of Molineux due to the rich vein of form which he has begun the season with, and with that in mind, Football League World asked our Wolves fan pundit, Thomas Woodhall, what valuation should be placed on his services?

Wolves told Fer Lopez is currently 'priceless' following £40m summer exit talk

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Wanderers parted with £19m to secure the Spanish youth international's services on a five-year contract ahead of their relegation campaign, during which he only made nine Premier League appearances before returning to Vigo on a short-term basis.

Lopez's former employers, Benfica and FC Porto were credited with interest in his signature ahead of Wolves' first Championship term in eight years, whilst it was also claimed that the attacker had expressed a desire to leave the club.

However, after the second tier outfit reportedly placed a late-window £40m valuation on his head following links to Crystal Palace, Woodhall now believes Lopez is effectively 'priceless' to Peixoto.

"Honestly, for his importance to us, and if we get promoted next year, he's one of those players that is the difference between a good and bad Premier League season, that has to be price-matched against it," he told FLW.

"Let's pretend Fer Lopez played for a Premier League team who didn't look like getting relegated or pushing for Europe for a long time, you're looking at, depending on who's buying him, £50m-plus.

"The way the current market is, the prices that '10's' and strikers are going for, take away the 'English tax', in excess of £50-60m.

"However, in the Championship, I think he's worth more to us than a fee," Woodhall claimed.

"If we were to sell him in January, as he might be the difference between getting promoted and not, in my opinion, it has to be a number big enough to replace (him) or stop it being a loss if we don't get promoted.

"Championship, 'number 10', Spanish - so not homegrown - going to a Premier League side, at least £40m," he added. "I'd hope the price tag they'd set to put people off was £100m, but £40m is probably the right place."

Fer Lopez's role in Cesar Peixoto's Wolves side is crucial

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At present, Lopez is arguably the best-performing player in the Championship, and Wolves will be hoping his performance levels can be maintained across the entirety of the gruelling 46-game campaign.

It is also no real surprise that the Spaniard is flourishing in Peixoto's style in WV1, after it was suggested the 46-year-old wanted to make him the heartbeat of his 4-2-3-1 system.

That has certainly been the case with a tally of five goals in all competitions as well as two assists, although the head coach revealed after the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last time out that he still thinks there is much more to come from his prized asset.

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With Lopez previously valued in the £40m ballpark, Wolves could have sanctioned one of the Championship's highest player sales after talk emerged over a potential move to Selhurst Park in August.

However, the decision to snub all offers at the time has paid off in the short-term, and it could do again in the long run from a financial perspective.

At the end of this campaign, Wanderers' star performer will still have three years left on his contract, meaning that there will be no rush from the club to sell Lopez on, and they could instead increase his valuation, particularly if a bidding war was to ensue.