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Worth 2× more than Munetsi: Wolves have hit the jackpot on “high-energy” star
It was a hectic transfer deadline day for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were in urgent need of reinforcements.
The Old Gold have faced challenges in the Premier League this season, currently sitting 17th in the standings. Their 2-0 victory over Aston Villa last weekend helped them escape the relegation zone.
However, new signings were necessary, and the West Midlands club brought in two players to strengthen Vitor Pereira’s squad. One of those signings was Nasser Djiga, a defender from Red Star Belgrade, marking the second defensive addition of the window after Emmanuel Agbadou.
In addition, Wolves secured a new midfielder to replace the departing Mario Lemina, with Marshall Munetsi joining from French club Reims.
Why Wolves Signed Munetsi
Zimbabwean international Munetsi arrived in the final hours of the window as a direct replacement for Lemina, who left for Galatasaray in a £2.5m deal.
The 28-year-old is a seasoned midfielder, having made 159 appearances for Reims over five seasons, contributing 35 goals and assists. Munetsi can play in various midfield roles—number six, number eight, or number ten—offering great flexibility for Pereira’s tactics.
This season, Munetsi has played 21 times, scoring four goals and providing two assists, including a clever assist in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain. His experience, including occasional captaincy for Reims this season, adds much-needed leadership to the Wolves squad. At a reported cost of £17m, he seems a good value given the current market.
The Wolves Player Worth More Than Munetsi
However, there’s another Wolves player who might play an even more crucial role in their fight against relegation—Joao Gomes.
The 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been outstanding, despite the team’s struggles this season. Gomes has made 24 appearances, scoring twice and assisting twice, including a goal and an assist in Wolves’ 4-1 win over Fulham.
Described as a “high-energy” player, Gomes is vital in breaking up opposition play and initiating counterattacks. His statistics for the 2024/25 season highlight his importance, particularly defensively, as he averages 4.33 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, placing him in the 77th percentile among Premier League midfielders.
Gomes’ transfer value has surged, with CIES Football Observatory estimating his worth at £44m, more than double the £17m Wolves paid to secure Munetsi. Considering they signed Gomes from Flamengo for just £15m two years ago, this represents a significant increase in value.
The rise in Gomes’ value underscores his importance to Wolves as they battle for survival in the Premier League. Along with Munetsi, Gomes will be key to their efforts in the second half of the season.
