Benfica have hijacked Wolves’ transfer to sign Portuguese midfielder Manu Silva, talkSPORT understands.
The Midlands outfit had agreed a £10million fee with Vitoria Guimaraes to secure the 23-year-old’s services.
Personal terms had also been agreed with the player, but it appears that he will now be staying in the Primeira Liga.
It is believed that Benfica have swooped in at the last minute where they have convinced Manu to join them over Wolves.
Benfica – sitting second behind Sporting Lisbon in the table – can offer the player Champions League football.
Managed by ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage, Benfica look poised to be involved in at least the Champions League knockout play-off stage with the club 15th in the 36-team table.
Manu has made 28 appearances across all competitions so far this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
His performances helped the side complete an unbeaten campaign in the Europa Conference League.
With four wins and two draws from their six matches, Vitoria finished second behind Chelsea to advance straight through to the last-16.
Manu tallied a goal and as many assists in those fixtures to see the club achieve their best European campaign since 1987 ahead of the knockout stages.
Since linking up at Vitoria from Feirense in 2023, Manu has featured in over 50 games.
The midfielder would have been new Wolves boss Vitor Pereira’s second incoming at Molineux this month.
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He could have been seen as a direct replacement for former skipper Mario Lemina, who has asked to leave the club this month.
Lemina was left out of the club’s squad that lost 3-0 to Newcastle last time out after requesting to be omitted.
Boss Pereira said of the Al-Shabab target: “I cannot bring a player who comes to me and says he’s not in a condition mentally to help the team, ‘I want to leave’.
“I don’t know what happened before me, but with this energy and mentality, I don’t need him. I’d prefer to play another player.”
Wolves have already added Ivorian defender Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims during the current window.
The centre-back penned a four-and-a-half year deal with the club following his £16.6million move.
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Agbadou made his debut against Bristol City in the FA Cup last weekend before starting against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Pereira’s side currently find themselves 17th in the Premier League table – only outside the relegation zone on goals scored ahead of Ipswich.
Wolves take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday night – looking to increase to put some ground between them and the Tractor Boys.
