da 888： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
da leao： BBC Sport pundit Danny Mills has praised Wolves’ move to extend the contract of midfielder Joao Moutinho while also claiming that his transfer value has increased substantially.
What’s he said?
The Portuguese playmaker has become one of the west Midlands club’s most important players having played in all 38 Premier League matches last season, which has continued into this campaign as the 33-year-old has started seven of a possible eight in the league, per WhoScored.
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In all competitions so far this term, Moutinho has recorded five assists meaning he is well on track to smash last season’s attempt of eight.
Previous reports have suggested that the Wolves midfielder has accepted the club’s offer of a new contract, which has since sparked a reaction from the 19-time England international, Mills.
Speaking with Football Insider, the former Leeds United right-back said:
“Brilliant bit of business, wasn’t it? Not sure about the ins and outs of the whole deal, given the agent involved and the fingers in pies that he has.
“What they’re going to do now is put him on a long term deal and if someone wants to buy him, they’re going to have to pay £20-£25million and that’s fabulous business from Wolves.
“Anybody that watches football regularly and watches the team regularly will realise what a very, very good player he is.”
Valuable, but time is not on his side
Wolves snatched the Portugal international from Monaco for just £5m last summer with over 100 caps and a Euro 2016 winners medal to his name.
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He has since gone on to win the UEFA Nations League and proven to be an influential member of Nuno Santo’s squad if the aforementioned figures are anything to go by.
To some extent, Mills is right in saying that his transfer value has increased substantially during the last year or so, but at 33, there’s not going to be many suitors wanting to splash that amount out on a player entering the twilight of his career.
However, that only serves as a good sign for Wolves as they will be able to reap the rewards from his considerable talents for the foreseeable future.