Reports: Wolves set to agree fee for Rui Patricio
Wolves are nearing an agreement with Sporting over Rui Patricio which will see the Portuguese club receive almost £16million, reports suggest.
Euro 2016-winner Patricio arrived at Molineux in the summer on a four-year deal after terminating his own contract with the Lisbon club, where he made more than 300 appearances.
He did so in response to an apparent attack by 50 of their own supporters at the end of the season when the team missed out on Champions League football and, as he was a free agent, Wolves did not pay a fee.
Sporting soon announced their intention to receive compensation though, initially stating they wanted £50m.
They claimed Patricio had 'broke his contract' and complained to Fifa while Patricio said his 'continuity had become untenable'.
There were fears of a tribunal but, after Sporting elected a new president in Frederico Varandas, a more straightforward process is thought to be on the verge of completion.
It is reported Wolves will pay €18m (£15.8m) for the 30-year-old after Varandas flew over for negotiations.
If that fee does prove to be true, he will be the club's second-most expensive signing behind speedy winger Adama Traore who arrived for £18m from Middlesbrough in August.
Patricio has been ever-present in the Premier League for Nuno Espirito Santo's side and impressed hugely with his displays between the sticks.
He has kept four clean sheets in eight games and made some stunning saves in the 1-1 draws with Manchester City and Manchester United.
Patricio was not the only one to cancel his deal with Sporting in the close season on the grounds of unfair treatment from former club president Bruno de Carvalho, who claimed on social media he suspended 19 first-team players after a Europa League loss to Atletico Madrid – although the post was later deleted and most players were involved in the next game.
The shot-stopper was one of seven who made that choice – including fellow Portugal stars William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes, in the end, did agree to stay on though.
Patricio is part of the Gestifute agency run by Jorge Mendes, who played a key role in his move to Wolves.
As well as his Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal, he won the Taca de Portugal twice and the Taca de Liga once for Sporting.
