Wolves are working to finalize a deal for Vítor Pereira to become their new head coach within the next 24 to 48 hours. Sky Sports News reports that the club has reached a broad agreement with Al Shabab regarding a compensation package, paving the way for Pereira’s move to England.
Discussions are ongoing in Saudi Arabia, but Wolves have already made arrangements to fly Pereira to England by midweek. The plan is for the Portuguese manager to take charge of training and prepare the team for their crucial clash against Leicester City this weekend. The appointment aligns with Wolves’ recent trend of hiring Portuguese managers, with Pereira set to follow in the footsteps of Bruno Lage and Nuno Espírito Santo.
Wolves’ owners, Fosun, maintain close ties with influential Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, although it is unclear whether Mendes was involved in Pereira’s recruitment. Despite having no prior experience managing in the Premier League, Pereira is held in high regard by the Wolves hierarchy, thanks to his success in securing league titles in three different countries. The 55-year-old was previously on the verge of taking over at Everton in 2022, before the club ultimately chose Frank Lampard.
The decision to pursue Pereira comes shortly after Gary O’Neil’s dismissal following a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Molineux on Saturday. The match, which left Wolves 19th in the Premier League and five points from safety, ended in further controversy when a scuffle broke out involving Rayan Aït-Nouri, who had to be removed from the pitch.
In a statement on Sunday, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi expressed gratitude for O’Neil’s efforts, saying: “We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication, and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future.”
Wolves had been considering multiple candidates in their search for a new manager, including West Brom’s Carlos Corberán and Blackburn’s John Eustace. However, with Premier League survival the club’s top priority, they have decided to put their faith in Pereira to steer the team out of danger.
