"The player won't be happy" - Transfer prediction issued on Newcastle-linked Wolves star | OneFootball

Wolves starlet Mateus Mané is attracting interest from elsewhere

Wolves are preparing for life in the Championship after their eight-year stay in the Premier League came to an end last season.

The West Midlands outfit spent the entire campaign sat bottom of the top-flight table and, although it looked to be their destiny for a significant period, the Molineux club can finally focus fully on their bid to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

It has already been a hectic summer for Wanderers and we're not even in July yet. The impressive captures of Kieran Trippier and Raúl Jiménez were followed by the surprising news that manager Rob Edwards had been sacked and subsequently replaced by Portuguese Cesar Peixoto.

As well as making impressive signings for the Championship, Wolves will also be hoping that they can keep hold of some of their biggest stars, one of them being Mateus Mané. A fresh claim has suggested that they may be able to keep hold of the exciting teenager.

Ex-Villa chief makes claim on Mateus Mané's Wolves future

In the last few weeks, Mané has been linked with the likes of Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund, as per the Express & Star, with a £30 million valuation on the teenagers head, but former Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness believes that Wolves could manage keep hold of the attacking midfielder - even in the Championship.

Wyness was chief executive at Villa between 2016 and 2018 and now advises top clubs as part of his consultancy business.

Speaking to Football Insider's 'Inside Track' podcast, Wyness made the point that he thinks it will take an "extraordinary bid" for the 18-year-old to sanction an exit this summer - something that the youngster may not be too happy about.

"I think it will be another year at Molineux, and he'll then get a move by next summer," Wyness said.

"However, having said that, there could well be a price that comes in that Wolves will find very hard to reject.

"The player, I'm sure, won't be happy about being a Championship player because I think he is quality. But I think his own deal for himself personally would be better off if he stays until next summer and then negotiates the deal at that time.

"I'd expect that possibly to happen unless something extraordinary comes in. And I don't think he's quite of that quality to get an extraordinary bid.

"He won't have been happy about the whole Rob Edwards situation, but he's one of the assets that they want to keep hold of if they can and utilise him in terms of that promotion push.

"There's going to be some serious competition in the Championship. It's going to be a phenomenal season to watch."

Mateus Mané could be the best young player in the Championship next season for Wolves

Action Images

Despite a disastrous season as a whole for Wolves, the breakthrough displays of Mané were something for fans to be positive about and the prospect of having the 18-year-old in the Championship will be very exciting.

In 27 Premier League appearances last season, the attacking midfielder scored three goals and registered two assists for a side that picked up just 20 points.

Born in Portugal, the Wolves youth product has represented England Under-18s, but has most recently played for Portugal Under-21s.

His Premier League debut was a brief cameo against Brighton and Hove Albion at the back end of the 2024/25 season and he didn't get his first senior appearance last term until November. However, from that point on the teenager became a regular under Edwards.

Whether Mané is ready to play for a club the size of Newcastle or Dortmund is yet to be seen, but if Wolves can keep hold of the prospect in the Championship, there is every chance they could boast the division's best young player this season.