Wolves aim to appoint Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira in next 24 hours as replacement for the sacked Gary O’Neil

Wolves are aiming to appoint Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira in the next 24 hours to replace the sacked Gary O’Neil. 

O’Neil was dismissed on Sunday morning after Saturday’s humiliating 2-1 home defeat by Ipswich that left Wolves five points adrift of safety.

Pereira, who coaches Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab, has never coached in the Premier League before, though he was close to joining Everton before they appointed Frank Lampard in January 2022. Wolves are prepared to pay the release clause in his contract.

Only last Thursday, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi wrote an article in the local newspaper in which he gave backing to O’Neil.

But the manner of the defeat to Ipswich convinced the hierarchy change was needed.

Wolves conceded from a set piece in stoppage time – their 16th from a dead ball this term – and Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri were involved in scuffles after the final whistle. Ait-Nouri was shown a second yellow card and will miss Sunday’s trip to fellow strugglers Leicester, while Cunha may also be punished retrospectively.

Though he has never worked in England, Pereira has won league titles with European giants FC Porto and Olympiacos.

Pereira, who speaks excellent English, also prefers to work with a back three, which make him a good fit for this Wolves squad.

It is Wolves’ first Portuguese appointment since Bruno Lage replaced Nuno Espírito Santo in 2021. They have had close ties with Portugal in the last decade thanks to strong relations between owners Fosun and super-agent Jorge Mendes, though it is unclear whether Mendes has played a part in this deal.

Wolves are expected to make funds available in January for new players, with a centre-back top of their list or priorities.