LOPETEGUI ADMITS HE ‘LIKES’ WORLD CUP STAR AS WOLVES EYE £12M DEAL
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has opened up on his admiration for Argentina international and Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna ahead of a potential reunion in the Premier League, speaking to Tiempo de Juego.
With Lopetegui at the helm, Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters certainly can’t say they do not know where their manager stands.
The former Real Madrid coach admitted shortly after taking charge that he was planning to spend in January. If that wasn’t enough, he then confirmed his interest in not one but two players who could soon be following in Lopetegui footsteps
“Both (Matheus) Cunha and Felipe are options to sign in the January transfer window,” Lopetegui told El Larquero of the Atletico Madrid duo. “We like them.”
Wolves, per Fabrizio Romano, are in talks with both Cunha and Felipe.
And Argentina left-back Marcos Acuna is another who could be on his way to Molineux in the New Year. The former Sporting Lisbon flyer played arguably the best football of his career under Lopetegui in Seville, and has been told he is free to leave the perennial Europa League winners for as little as £12 million in the winter (La Colina de Nervion).
Lopetegui was not quite so forthcoming when quizzed about Acuna’s future. But he did admit that the 31-year-old full-back is a player he admires.
“We are opening up different options,” Lopetegui begins. “Because the reality is that we have to reinforce the team in different positions. He is a player that I like. But we will see what happens.”
Acuna has played a key role in Argentina’s run to the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup. It was he who won the penalty Lionel Messi converted during Friday’s thrilling quarter-final victory over the Netherlands.
Wolves, meanwhile, have also been linked with Mexico playmaker Alexis Vega and Osasuna skipper David Garcia. Long-term target Dario Osorio, however, will reportedly stay in South America.
