'Uncle' Jorge Mendes is back in at Wolves again - this is what it means for their relegation fight, January signings and the club's power structure
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Jorge Mendes might have been tempted to borrow a line from Wayne Rooney as he reclaimed a central billing at Wolverhampton Wanderers this week. Just as Rooney announced his arrival at England's training base at the 2006 World Cup by remarking that 'the big man's back in town', so Mendes has been at the heart of matters as Wolves try to escape their greatest crisis since promotion to the Premier League in 2018.
![[Wolves are on the lookout for a new manager with Vitor Pereira a client of super-agent Mendes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200775-14197775-image-a-2_1734367040110.jpg)
In his hour of greatest need, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi enlisted the help of Mendes, who represents a host of A-listers including Cristiano Ronaldo and is probably still world football's most influential agent. Prospective new manager Vitor Pereira is a Mendes client and his likely appointment might not have been so smooth without his representative's excellent relations with Wolves.
![[Gary O'Neil was sacked as Wolves manager on Sunday following another Premier League loss]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200973-14197775-image-a-3_1734367196771.jpg)
Mendes never really went away. His company, Gestifute, have been involved in at least 30 deals including manager hires since Nuno Espirito Santo arrived as head coach at the start of the 2017-18 season. Gestifute still have their hospitality box on the first floor at Molineux. They represent six players in the first-team squad. Mendes has always been one of Shi's key advisors.
![[David Carmo (left) and Antonio Silva are two players who could join Wolves via Mendes' links]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93201089-14197775-image-m-7_1734367476686.jpg)
Jorge Mendes (bottom right) still has a strong influence at Wolves as they look to use him again. Wolves are on the lookout for a new manager with Vitor Pereira a client of super-agent Mendes. Yet by hiring Gary O'Neil in August 2023 and giving sporting director Matt Hobbs sweeping powers over recruitment, Wolves were attempting to loosen their ties to the Portuguese behemoth ever so slightly.
