Wolves look set to trigger an extension in Nelson Semedo’s contract at Molineux, which could prove to be a big boost for Julen Lopetegui.
Is Semedo getting a new contract at Wolves?
As per Express and Star journalist Liam Keen, Wolves are likely to trigger the Portuguese full-back’s two-year contract extension before the end of the season, in order to ensure that the former Barcelona man cannot leave on a free transfer when the campaign ends.
Keen suggests that the decision is in Wolves’ hands and it seems likely that the 29-year-old will remain with the Old Gold in the summer, as the club will surely want to see some return on their £36.8m investment in the right-back from 2020.
The deal makes sense from a footballing perspective as well as a financial one, as the Portugal international has been much improved since Lopetegui’s arrival last year and has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.
Has Semedo undergone a big turnaround at Molineux?
After Semedo was sent off in the 3-2 defeat against Brighton earlier in the season, for which he was strongly criticised by Steve Madeley, it seemed as if many Wolves fans may have seen enough of the defender, whose qualities at the back have been a problem throughout his time in the Midlands.
Dexter Lembikisa’s promotion to the first-team put pressure on the former Benfica man to improve his performances and he has done just that, impressing in recent home wins over West Ham and Liverpool. WhoScored awarded him 7.33 and 7.24 ratings for those respective performances, which is far better than his 6.47 average in the Premier League.
Lopetegui spoke about Semedo’s improved performance levels at the end of January, so it is perhaps no surprise that the Spaniard wants to keep him around next season.
The 56-year-old said: “We are happy with Nelson’s performance. His commitment is very big in his daily work. He wants to improve, so we try to help him. At the moment he’s playing very well.
“I think he’s defending well, which is very important. In elite football, first of all, you have to defend well and after he is to do more because he’s a good player.”The Portuguese right-back has shown glimpses of impressive performances in the past, with The Athletic’s Tim Spiers labelling him “unbelievable” back in 2021 after a strong display against Fulham.He is starting to show some consistent form under Lopetegui and is very much first-choice at right-back, so it can only be good news for the Wolves boss that Semedo’s stay at Molineux will likely soon be extended for another two years.