Newcastle United are reportedly among the clubs tracking a Wolves teenager after his breakout season at Molineux.
According to Express & Star’s Liam Keen, Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt are all interested in 18-year-old Mateus Mane, who became one of the few bright spots in a difficult Wolves campaign that saw the club get relegated to the Championship.
“Wolves starlet Mateus Mane has interest from Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt,” Keen reported.
Mane
stepped into senior football last season and played regularly despite Wolves’ struggles. He finished the campaign with three goals and two assists across 31 appearances.
Mane played close to 2,000 minutes during his first senior season at Wolves, an unusually heavy workload for a young player breaking through at Premier League level, which might also have a lot to do with why Wolves ended up where they did—sitting last in the EPL table when all was said and done.
Wolves were relegated after a poor campaign, and manager Rob Edwards has since been sacked, with Cesar Peixoto set to replace him. The club, however, seems determined to keep Mane for their Championship season.
The teenager has also suggested he will stay, but the report warned that interest from major clubs could test that stance if formal offers arrive.
Newcastle’s interest fits their push to target younger players with developmental value and profit potential.
Wolves, meanwhile, are sitting on the other end of the spectrum to build a veteran roster that can bring them back to England’s top-flight division, signing former Magpie Kieran Trippier on a free and 35-year-old Raul Jimenez right before the World Cup.
For now, no bids for Mane have been reported, whether those are from Newcastle or any other club interested in the youngster.
