Why Wolves should quickly hand Joao Moutinho a new contract

According to a report from the Telegraph, Wolves are in advanced talks with Joao Moutinho over a new two-year contract.

The Portuguese midfielder, 33, has been a revelation at Molineux since being signed for £5million from AS Monaco last year. He arrived after trophy-laden spells at Sporting, Porto and Monaco, and was instrumental as Wolves enjoyed vast success last season.

Joao Moutinho played every single game in the Premier League last season, scoring a goal and providing eight assists. His consistently solid performances earned him the Wolves’ player of the year at the end-of-season awards.

The experienced midfielder has less than 12 months remaining on his current contract but Wolves are in negotiations to tie him down for the next few seasons. That being said, are the Wanderers doing the right thing by handing Moutinho a two-year extension?

Without a shadow of a doubt, yes! Moutinho is one of the leading figures in an exciting Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves squad. He is an influential central midfielder that is a key player in Nuno’s squad and makes the team tick when he plays well.

The midfielder’s developed into a talisman in Nuno’s team and was crucial in helping the Wanderers successfully negotiate the Europa League’s qualifying rounds.

A Euro 2016 and Nations League winner with Portugal, a three-time Primeira Liga winner with Porto and a Ligue 1 winner with Monaco, the 5ft 7in Moutinho is one of the most classy operators ever to don the famous gold and black.

His supreme quality on the ball combined with his energy, intensity and tireless running make him an indispensable figure to Nuno’s side.

In recent weeks he may have struggled a bit as the Wanderers are still searching for their first win of the new Premier League season, but it is worth mentioning that the midfield trio of Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker are central to Nuno’s three-at-the-back system working. They help in keeping the Midlands outfit ticking throughout the game.

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Moutinho is the playmaker of the side and while his levels have dropped a bit which has directly affected Wolves’ productivity in the final third this season, he is a leader and off the pitch and is a player that needs to be kept.

Verdict

The Portuguese international doesn’t look like a player past his prime at this point. A two-year extension to a 33-year-old may be a risky move from Wolves, but Moutinho is the club’s best midfielder, hands down.

His leadership qualities, winning mentality and massive experience would only help the Midlands club scale greater heights in the next couple of years.