wolves There are still ways to benefit from the rise of Bastian Meupiou in Portugal - and the defender himself now looks set for a move elsewhere.
after Portuguese this month's report Explaining that Wolves continue to monitor the 20-year-old centre-back's progress at Alverca, the Frenchman's latest comments have added another layer to the situation ahead of the summer window.
game Relay an interview where Meupiou reflected positively on his first full senior season in Portugal.
The defender admitted that the experience at Alverca "exceeded expectations" after arriving from Wolves last year. And the club still holds significant influence over his future.
As first reported in PortugalWolves inserted a buyback clause worth less than €1m (£850k) when they sold him to Alverca. They are also entitled to approximately 50% of future transfer fees.
In practice, Wolves could either bring him back cheaply or profit from a sale to another club.
Defenders signal big ambitions
Bastien Meupiau did nothing to calm transfer speculation when discussing interest elsewhere.
"Like any player, I want to play in the best competitions," He accepted.
A number of European clubs are already following his progress after 31 appearances in one season under Custodio Castro.
The centre-back also explained why Alverca's youth team has managed to exceed expectations this season.
"Solidarity," He said. “Everyone made an effort and there was a lot of help on the pitch.”
“To be honest, the beginning was not easy, but we never gave up and always kept our heads high.”
Wolves remain important
Although Meupiou only played for Wolves' U21 team before moving to Portugal, he spoke positively about his time at Molineux.
The French defender highlighted the opportunity to work with senior players such as Nelson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia during his tenure at the club.
Finally, if the club believes Meupiou is ready for Championship football, the buyback option gives Wolves an inexpensive way to strengthen their defence. If another club moves instead, Wolves are still set to collect a significant percentage of the transfer fee.
The situation in summer seems like a low-risk situation. The club can be happy with whatever happens next.
