Wolves ready to wait on potential settlement over Rui Patricio

Reports in Portugal suggested Sporting Lisbon could be willing to re-negotiate a transfer fee after a new president was elected.

But Molineux chiefs are still waiting to hear back from FIFA over Sporting’s appeal over the signing, claiming the Portugal No.1 terminated his contract unlawfully.

Patricio arrived at Molineux this summer as a free agent after quitting Sporting, following an attack by masked thugs on players earlier this year when they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Wolves have maintained the 30-year-old left his contract legitimately but Sporting dispute this and appealed to FIFA seeking compensation for his departure.

The matter could be decided by FIFA or through a tribunal.

Wolves remain open to discussions with Sporting, however, they do not expect to pay the £16million fee which had been agreed between the Portuguese club and Jorge Mendes’s Gestifute agency before negotiations broke down.

After Patricio arrived at Molineux, Sporting issued an angry statement demanding up to £50m compensation.

Patricio was the first of nine players to walk out on the club after the attack by fans– with others including William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes following suit in a turbulent time at Sporting.

Patricio cited a ‘just cause’ in resigning from the club, with whom he had spent 19 years, claiming a lack of safety and protection, which was highlighted by the attack.

The president at the time, Bruno de Carvalho, has since left the club after fans voted for him to quit. Former club doctor Frederico Varandas has now taken over as president.

According to reports, Varandas is keen to renegotiate exit deals for the nine players who left.

Patricio joined Wolves in June on a four-year deal and has impressed in the first four Premier League games of the season.