Wolves transfer news: International valued at £21.6m 'attracting interest' from six clubs

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly one of six clubs who are interested in signing one of Benfica's star players.

Despite the additions of Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias, the latter yet to feature in pre-season, head coach Vitor Pereira is enduring a frustrating period as head coach.

Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Lens at the home of Walsall made it four friendlies without success at a time when Wolves' squad has got thinner by the week.

As a result, there are growing calls for signings to be made as soon as possible with just two games remaining before the Premier League opener against Manchester City on August 16.

According to Turkish journalist Yakup Cinar, Wolves are among teams who hold an interest in signing Kerem Akturkoglu.

© Imago

Wolves in race to sign Turkey international

The report alleges that the playmaker is on the radar of as many as half-a-dozen teams after an impressive first campaign in Portugal.

Sixteen goals and 13 assists came from his 53 appearances in all competitions, with four strikes being netted in the Champions League.

West Ham United, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce and Besiktas are all said to be keen on the 26-year-old.

Akturkoglou previously made his name at Galatasaray where he chipped in with 46 goals and 42 assists from 179 matches.

Benfica were able to sign him for in the region of £10m in September, but the Portuguese giants would be looking for more than double that - €25m (£21.62m) - this summer.

With a contract in place until 2029, though, Benfica are not in a position where they need to sell one of their key men.

© Imago

Are Wolves outsiders...again?

Given the clubs that are mentioned, the perception will be that Wolves are not favourites to win this particular race.

When they have already been shunned by the likes of Marc Pubill and Richard Rios, who instead joined Atletico Madrid and Benfica respectively, supporters may feel that they are shopping in the wrong section of the market.

Urgency is growing to get fresh faces into Molineux and this feels like a scenario where Akturkoglou, who has 12 goals from 44 caps for Turkey, can afford to bide his time.