Cesar Peixoto's first Wolves signing set to be 23-year-old star | OneFootball

Wolves are looking to make further moves in the market after appointing Cesar Peixoto

Wolverhampton Wanderers will now be looking to ramp up their pre-season preparations ahead of a first campaign at Championship level for eight years - one which will also begin under a new head coach at Molineux.

Indeed, Wolves were relegated after finishing rock-bottom of the Premier League last season, and unsurprisingly, speculation over the long-term future of many players has been rife.

However, such speculation even reached the managerial position a few short days ago, despite there being a large expectancy that Rob Edwards would be overseeing his first full season in charge of the club.

Following their return to the Championship, the Old Gold and Black had still been extremely active in the early off-season transfer market under his leadership

Indeed, they shocked many when Brazilian midfielder, Andre, signed a four-year contract extension after previous exit talk, before Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez arrived on free transfers. However, Edwards was then dismissed last Thursday.

Wanderers are now under the management of Cesar Peixoto, formerly of Liga Portugal outfit, Gil Vicente, who he helped finish sixth in 2025/26.

And it appears the 46-year-old and the club's recruitment team are wasting no time at all when it comes to reshaping his squad, with there now nine weeks until the new season gets underway.

Cesar Peixoto plotting first Wolves signing - Jorge Mendes agent factor highlighted

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Indeed, as reports grew that Peixoto was poised to take up the vacancy of head coach at Molineux, it was made clear that the new boss has an affinity to the head of agency, GestiFute, Jorge Mendes, who has been closely linked to the Midlands club throughout the ownership tenure of Fosun Group.

After initially beginning such a relationship with the club in 2016, Mendes then went on to act as the agent of Nuno Espírito Santo, Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota, with the latter duo instrumental in Wolves' title-winning success of 2017/18 and their continued upward trajectory in the Premier League afterwards.

Peixoto has also been credited as an ally to Mendes, and now it appears as though the agent could be key in helping him strike his first signing as Wanderers boss.

Earlier in the week, speculation between themselves and a move for Famalicao right-back, Rodrigo Pinheiro came to the fore, and now Nathan Judah has provided a fresh update on such links.

Wolves' technical director, Matt Jackson, will reportedly begin planning an immediate promotion bid with Peixoto in his native Portugal, while Mendes is said to be pushing for the 23-year-old defender to become the club's third summer recruit, amid interest from rival suitors.

Pinheiro is a product of the FC Porto academy, and has since played 59 times for Famalicao, which included 29 appearances last season, during which he scored thrice and posted a further two assists.

Wolves' move for a new right-back comes alongside Kieran Trippier uncertainty

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Indeed, it appears extremely logical for Wolves to be adding reinforcements at right-back anyway following the pending departure of Matt Doherty when the Irishman's contract expires on June 30th.

However, a move for the highly-rated Pinheiro also comes alongside uncertainty over whether the aforementioned Trippier will officially sign for the club on July 1st, once his deal at Newcastle United also comes to an end.

The 35-year-old had struck a pre-contract agreement with the club in the days leading up to Edwards' sacking, but is believed to be one of many first-team players who were annoyed by Fosun's decision, and as such, is said to be considering his options with other sides still interested in a free transfer.

That said, Wolves have enjoyed strong success in the Portuguese market, and with Peixoto spending his entire managerial career to-date in his homeland, they will hope the potential addition of Pinheiro proves to be a successful deal in both the short and long-term.