Reports coming out of Brazil tonight suggest that Wolves could be edging closer to making their first senior signing of the summer in the form of the highly-rated Pepê from Gremio in Brazil. We’ve taken a look at the player and the possibilities of a deal.
Who is Pepê?
Eduardo Gabriel Aquino Cossa, better known as Pepê is a 23-year-old Brazilian who currently plays for Gremio in Brazil’s top division, Serie A. Pepê is a versatile forward who can play on the left, right and even operating as a second striker. The highly-rated and explosive forward has been touted for a move to the likes of Bayern Munich, Porto, Rome, Ajax and even PSG and is thought of as one of the top domestic talents in Brazil, alongside his former teammate Everton, who has just matched the switch to Benfica.
What would Pepê bring to the Wolves set-up?
Pepê is a player who could come straight into the first 11 and make a difference which will be music to Wolves fans ears after the previous few signings have been sent straight out on loan to gain first-team minutes.
It’s not yet known where Wolves would look to deploy him should they sign the 23-year-old but his versatility could be a major factor in Wolves’ interest as we all know that Nuno and Fosun look for players who are competent and comfortable in a number of positions and Pepê is just that. He mostly played on the left for Gremio this season and has been their stand out player, with many Gremio fans on Twitter seeming extremely upset that their star man could be on his way to Molineux. Not only has Pepê featured on the left but he’s also played on the right and has played through the middle on the odd occasion.
In his previous season at Gremio, Pepê managed to score eight goals and grab three assists, despite only starting 14 games. One thing that we love about the player is how direct he is. Pepê is never one to shy away from beating his man convincingly and is constantly looking to move the ball forward. He often comes short to gain possession of the ball but is also capable of receiving the ball in a tight area and breaking through the thirds into attacking spaces. This, of course, is helped by the fact that he’s only 5ft9 and turns with ease.
Technically Pepê is superb and is extremely quick both with and without the ball but he also has an eye for a pass too. There is perhaps the issue that Pepê is still a little raw but over time, with the attributes he already possesses, he could develop into a top player. If he does sign for Wolves then be sure to keep your eye out for his cheeky dink of a finish, which he’s done so with aplomb in the last few seasons.
How much would Pepê cost Wolves?
Pepê’s agent is in England (or is at least on his way) to discuss contract negotiations with clubs with Wolves named as one of those clubs. It’s not known who the other clubs are but reports coming out of Brazil are only naming Wolves currently. When Bayern Munich were said to be interested in Pepê, that deal was said to be around £20 million so we expect a similar sort of fee now. It’s understood that Gremio do not want to sell the player and are clinging on to one of their prized assets.
Matthew Cooper is a Talking Wolves founder. You can follow him on Twitter here
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