Wolves have slapped a £30 million price tag on teenage sensation Mateus Mane as INEOS pivots toward securing the Premier League’s most fearless and versatile attacking prodigies.
Since INEOS have taken over the footballing operations of the club, they have made a clear shift in the type of transfer target they go for.
From signing the biggest shiny new toy under previous regimes, to now the targeting of either Premier League-proven players in their prime or some of the hottest prospects in world football.
All the names so far, whether they have been tried and tested players, whether they are young or in their prime, for example, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.
However, with Jason Wilcox, it is clear the club will be in for the best U-19 talent, as seen with recent links to the 16-year-old Leicester winger, Jeremy Monga. There is one Premier League wonderkid that has caught the imagination of everyone in the league.
Wolves place £30 million tag on Mane
Mateus Mane has been one of the most exceptional breakout talents this year. What has made his rise to wonderkid status more impressive is the fact he is standing out in a Wolverhampton Wanderers side that will go down as one of the worst in Premier League history.
According to Shaun Conolloy at the Theatre of Red, Wolves would potentially accept around £25 million - £30 million for his signature.
The 18-year-old has shown a fearlessness regardless of who he has come up against, with a technical ability that makes him a scary proposition on the transition.
His dribbling, versatility to play across the attack and footballing IQ at such a young age are what makes him so highly touted for a big move.
Worth the gamble?
Despite the clear talent on show for everyone to see, £30 million could be a hefty fee for a player with only one year of professional experience. Furthermore, some may argue that this could be another example of a young player shining in a poor team.
However, this is a talent that United cannot miss out on, similar to the signing of Amad before he'd even played a full professional 90 minutes.
He has all the hallmarks of a scintillating player who not only will suit the system of Carrick on transition, but also a player the Old Trafford faithful will take in with open arms.
For too long, United have missed out on signing the best young talents like Mane, and they end up going to a stepping-stone club before getting linked for massive fees.
