Agent confirms interest in Copa Libertadores hero linked with Wolves
Jhon Arias has attracted the interest of ‘several Premier League teams’, having been linked with Wolves and West Ham.
That’s according to the 26-year-old’s agent who, speaking to Gol Caracol, via HITC, prior to Fluminense’s Copa Libertadores final victory over Boca Juniors, confirmed the winger was of interest to clubs in England’s top flight.
Crystal Palace have also been linked with a player who can operate on either flank and who has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists from 54 games this term and who played every minute of his team’s 2-1 extra time win against Boca on Sunday.
Agent Alex Viveros is quoted as saying: “Jhon is a focused, committed and calm player. In addition, he has the support of my partner Gianfranco, who has been a great support for him in Brazil. Together, we closely follow the relevant aspects of his career.
“Arias is one of the best players in Brazilian football. (A league) considered one of the most difficult championships in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that he has aroused the interest of several Premier League teams.
“Jhon’s future will depend on the opportunities and needs of clubs abroad.”
The winger was born in Columbia and made his breakthrough at Patriotas before moving on to America de Cali and Sante Fe, which in 2021 earned him a four-year contract with Fluminense. He has also played ten times for his country.
Wolves seem to have worked some way through the Financial Fair Play issues that dictated their transfer activity in the summer – but are not yet free to spend with impunity. What they do invest in the January transfer window could well go on a striker with Gary O’Neil thought to want to add to his options up front.
‘Week after week, game after game’ – Wolves star issues referee plea as new row flares
Latest Wolverhampton Wanderers news from BirminghamLive as Nelson Semedo comments on controversial penalty call that saw Wolves beaten at Sheffield United and other VAR setbacks this season against Man Utd and Newcastle
Wolves defender Nelson Semedo believes it is “time to talk” about the poor refereeing decisions and VAR controversies littering the Premier League this season.
Wolves have been particularly hard hit, arguably being on the wrong end of up to four errant refereeing calls that could have seen them up to six points better off than their current total of 12.
But the biggest headlines of the weekend were reserved for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after his rant at Newcastle United over the goal that saw his title hopefuls beaten for the first time this season.
The Spaniard labelled the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s second-half winner to stand as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”, and was later back by a statement from the Gunners deploring “unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors”.
Wolves’ latest setback came at Sheffield United on Saturday, referee Rob Jones awarding the hosts an injury-time penalty to seal a 2-1 victory. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker described it as a “stinking decision”.
Semedo later told BBC Radio WM: “It’s week after week, game after game, and it’s always against us. They have to improve their decisions. They have VAR, they have everything they need to get the right decision but it looks like they’re not getting it.
“I’m not the type of person that likes to talk about this, but when it’s game after game this season – we had Manchester United, we had Newcastle, we had Luton, we had this one – it’s time to talk about it, because this is enough. We cannot continue with this type of decisions.
“We want them to improve their decisions. There are a couple of times they come to us after and apologise, or sometimes they don’t. But it’s the fourth time, already, and it’s going to cost us points. We would like to see these things solved.”
Sadly, the Wolves right-back does not see things improving in the short term. He added: “Last week we had one that they said was a mistake. This game we have another one. So I hope they will improve it, but now I don’t have the confidence that it will get better.
“It looks like we are playing against two teams – our opponents and the officials. This is the Premier League, it’s very tough. When you have decisions like this, it gets harder. But we’ve got to move on and try to focus on what we can control.”
Wolves have won sympathy from numerous football pundits over the past few weeks, and the latest is Phil McNulty, BBC Sport’s chief football writer.
Asked during an online Q&A session whether Wolves manager Gary O’Neil was right to be so upset with officials this season, McNulty said: “I have a lot of sympathy for him. I do think Wolves have been on the rough end of a few decisions this season. I did not think Sheffield United’s winner in stoppage time on Saturday was a penalty. I felt they were hard done by.”
Speaking soon after the final whistle at Bramall Lane, O’Neil declared: “It is not a penalty, hardly any contact. It is a tough one to discuss, it is another terrible decision.”
And referring to match official Jones, he added: “I don’t understand why he feels the need to give it. Pause, take your time, it’s not about you. If you have made a clear and obvious error there, VAR will tell you after.”
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