Liverpool one of two favourites to sign Mateus Mane as Wolves brace for offer
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Credit: Imago Mon 9 March 2026 12:43, UK Wolverhampton Wanderers are prepared to field several offers for talented teenager Mateus Mane this summer after his breakthrough season.The 18-year-old has emerged among the brightest talents in the Premier League, proving a rare bright spot in a season of difficulty. Wolves are set to be relegated in the coming weeks, with a late-season surge unlikely to be enough to launch a sensational escape.Rob Edwards’ side have beaten Aston Villa and Liverpool in their last two Premier League games, with some sections of Molineux feeling a slight twinge of belief.Yet Wolves remain 12 points from safety, and would likely need to win at least six of their final eight games to have a chance of completing the greatest escape the English top flight has ever seen.
VISIT THE TRANSFER HUBLiverpool lead race for Mateus ManeMane’s Premier League debut actually came last season, when he enjoyed just a few minutes off the bench as Wolves lost to Brighton.And until November, he had not played a single minute of first-team football this season. Mateus ManePremier League 2025-26Appearances19Goals/Assists3Chances created13Successful dribbles19Duels won79After a string of strong cameos in December, including one in which he provided an assist against Arsenal, Edwards decided to hand him an increased role.Wolves were instantly rewarded, winning their first game of the season against West Ham when Mane scored and won a penalty.The 18-year-old has continued to impress in the months since, with much of the Premier League now keeping a close eye on his development.
One major bookmaker has placed Liverpool and Manchester United as 2/1 favourites to sign Mane this summer, with Arsenal (3/1) also among the main contenders.Football Insider exclusively revealed last month that Wolves want £50million for Mane, with that position set to be tested.What Rob Edwards has said about ManeThere is also competition at the international stage for Mane, who is able to play for both England and Portugal.The immediate battle for his future will be at the club level, however, but the midfielder may not feel that his time at Wolves is done just yet.In the Championship, the 18-year-old will be a certain starter, ensuring his development is not stalled by a consistent spot on the bench elsewhere.“He’s got a really high ceiling, I think because of his mentality, because of his quality and because he’s not finished developing yet,” said Edwards when asked about Mane.“He can go a long, long way. He’s getting a lot of headlines and there’s a lot of noise about him, there’s not many 18-year-olds in the Premier League doing what he’s doing at the moment, especially in a team that’s been struggling this season.“He’s made a real impact for us and he has a really, really bright future ahead of him.” 🐺 Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Wolves Insider Access Get the full story from Molineux and Compton Park with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the West Midlands.