John Arias is poised to become the second summer transfer acquisition that Wolves will have completed this window, as the deal to bring him from Brazil appears to have been finalized.
The Colombian international is ready to join the team after Wolves reached an accord with Fluminense to sign the forward.
Arias is accepting a salary reduction to join Wolves, in what is a clear indication to Fluminense of his eagerness to compete in the Premier League.
He is viewed as a substitute for Matheus Cunha, after the Brazilian departed Molineux to link up with Manchester United.
While he is being considered as an option to replace Cunha, he is seen as only part of the solution.
Fer Lopez impressing during pre-season training with Wolves:
Wolves have been in Portugal for the past week as they have started their pre-season preparation ahead of the new 2025/26 campaign.
Vitor Pereira’s squad fell to Santa Clara in a friendly on Thursday, where the display mattered more than the outcome.
The performance of Fer Lopez has particularly stood out while the club has been in Portugal, with Jorgen Strand Larsen sharing with Wolves Express exactly what he has thought of the Spaniard.
The Spaniard has displayed flashes of skill akin to that of Pablo Sarabia, being exceptionally gifted with the ball and showcasing the technique he possesses, especially with his passing ability.
How Fer Lopez can replace Matheus Cunha
Although Lopez is not yet a polished product at just 21 years old, he demonstrated last season with Celta Vigo exactly what he will contribute to Wolves and how he can mitigate the loss of Matheus Cunha.
Lopez has never been precise in front of goal, but his passing skill can help lessen the impact of Cunha’s departure, as the Spaniard was highly inventive with the ball.
Fer Lopez Matheus Cunha
Appearances 37 36
Goals 8 17
Assists 2 6
Accurate Passes 806 803
Passing Accuracy 84.4% 78.3%
Accurate Long Balls 26 55
Long Balls Accuracy 44.8% 55%
[According to Sofascore]
Cunha is more inclined to take risks when making his passes; this is to generate goals, while Fer Lopez adopts a more measured approach.
This could also indicate a different tactic from Vitor Pereira in attack as he seeks to manage play through Lopez, with the Spaniard crafting opportunities with coordinated passing compared to the method employed by Cunha.