The world is back on its axis.
Wolves are signing players from Portugal, signings from Portugal are helping them win games, and everything seems fitting again for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
After a very difficult run in the Premier League, the club beat Chelsea 2-1 on Wednesday evening, thanks to goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota.
Jota, a Portugal U21 international, arrived from Atletico Madrid officially, but he’d not really been a part of the Spanish club’s plans, having previously been at Pacos de Ferreira and then on loan to Porto.
Jimenez, the hard working Mexican striker who doesn’t score nearly enough goals, is on loan from Benfica with a €38m purchase option.
The pair are soon to be joined by Shoya Nakajima, if Portuguese newspaper A Bola are correct. On Wednesday it was reported Wolves were in the final stages of talks to sign the Portimonense player for €20m.
A Bola also carry the story in their paper edition on Thursday, but they only add one sentence. That said, it’s a very crucial sentence: ‘Confirmation of transfer will be made official in the next days’
We’re a little disappointed there’s not been more of a saga, especially given the player was seriously linked to Leicester City recently.
So, who is Nakajima? He’s a 24 year old attacker, who usually plays on the left, but can play in the middle or on the right, and he’s been outstanding this season.
Two goals and two assists in a Man of the Match performance against Sporting recently helped push his star a little higher. He isn’t a Gestifute client, instead represented by a Japanese agency.
Having just watched a WyScout video collection on the player, it appears he’s a classic left winger eager to get into positions where he can put a cross in with his left foot.
He does cut in sometimes and use his right foot to swing a dangerous ball in or place a pass, and can also drift into central areas looking for the ball and then attack through the middle.
Nakajima appears truly two footed and has a record of scoring with both, seemingly able to pick without any bother.
