Wolves could sign £6.5m bargain defender for nothing in January

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Wolves may look to bring in new faces in their bid to avoid relegation

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Wolverhampton Wanderers remain bottom of the Premier League table but will have taken heart from a spirited performance at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.

Vitor Pereira’s side came mightily close to picking up all three points thanks to a scrappy Santiago Bueno goal early in the second half, but Spurs rallied and equalised through Joao Palhinha deep in stoppage time.

While it was a devastating end to the game for the Old Gold, who remain rooted to the bottom with just one solitary point, the result represented a step forward in a game from which they may not have expected anything.

The task at hand remains a difficult one. Pereira will more than aware that positive results in upcoming fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunderland and Burnley could prevent them from having a mountain to climb as we approach the winter period. He may decide to look to the future in January and secure a potentially game-changing transfer.

Wolves should target Diogo Leite free transfer signing

Wolves would be smart to secure a free signing in January in the shape of Union Berlin centre-back Diogo Leite. The 26-year-old Bundesliga star sees his contract run out in 2026 and so would be available to sign on a pre-contract agreement from January onwards.

Though this would mean he would not be available to play for Wolves until next season, he could prove a very astute buy if Wolves were to survive in the top flight this campaign. Signed for just €7.5 million (£6.5m) from Porto in 2023, Leite has seen his profile increase in Germany. The Portuguese is viewed as one of the most reliable defenders in the Bundesliga, averaging 2.26 tackles per 90 and 60 touches per game.

The Old Gold have struggled at the back so far this season, with Pereira going so far to change his entire defence between their most recent Premier League fixtures against Leeds United and Spurs. Leite would certainly elevate his central defensive options, should Pereira be able to secure the signing of his fellow countryman ahead of what is likely to be a host of clubs around Europe.

Standing at 6ft 3in tall and praised for his versatility across defensive systems, Leite also offers a mixture of physicality and composure, both on and off the ball, which would help him adapt easily to the Premier League. He would slot in with ease alongside multiple other Portuguese speakers in the Wanderers squad, and could be a major signing.

What next for Wolves after late blow at Tottenham?

Wolves head coach Pereira praised his side despite the late blow they were dealt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, believing his players are “mentally stronger” as they approach an important set of fixtures in October.

Pereira told BBC Sport: "We deserved the three points and almost in the end it's difficult to accept. I'm trying to come back but it's difficult. We controlled the game in the second half. The spirit was there. Everything was there but the last minute, it's football.

"It's difficult to come to this stadium and play this way. The first half we had some problems but the second half my team were the best team on the pitch. Keeping this spirit, two games in a row without losing, we played very well against Everton. Tactically and mentally we are in conditions to compete. We are on the same page. I believe we'll get points.

"They are working well, all of them, fighting for the position. We need to find our balance, give some confidence for the first XI. When they came from the bench they showed the spirit we have in this team. Mentally we are stronger. We [him and the owner] talk every day, if we have something to talk, we talk."