Saturday at Old Trafford, Manchester United get ready to take on Wolves for the third time this month.
After two stalemates and a United win in their FA Cup fourth-round replay, you may be forgiven to think that this fixture is losing some of its bite.
Talent
But with both clubs bringing in some Portuguese talent before this month’s transfer window slams shut in England, their new imports might just add some extra spice and heat to the rivalry.
Wolves’ new winger Daniel Podence arrived from Olympiacos on Thursday and he can’t wait to help out compatriots, coach Nuno Espirito Santo, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and company get one over United.
DANGER MAN: Daniel Podence. Picture: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters.
Podence says: “I’m very excited. It was always a childhood dream of mine to play in the Premier League and I look at this achievement as a dream come true.
“Wolves are a team with a big project, with ambitious goals to look forward to, where I’ll get to meet former teammates with whom I had the pleasure to play with in the past and I hope to be very successful here.”
IN THE MIX: Bruno Fernandes. Picture: Heino Kalis/Reuters.
United were on Thursday working hard to dot all the I’s and cross the T’s in Bruno Fernandes’ £67.8m transfer for Sporting Lisbon.
They have until midday to register Fernandes to make sure he is eligible to face Wolves.
United, meanwhile, have also been offered the services of former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, who currently plays for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/B_Fernandes8?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@B_Fernandes8🇵🇹 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/RguCXvPhLh
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
With the start of the CSL postponed because of the coronavirus, a number of players are looking for new clubs and Ighalo is seen as a perfect short-term replacement for the injured Marcus Rashford.