TugaScout is an English-language site reporting on matters associated with Portuguese football by freelance writer Alex Goncalves, offering the latest news, reviews and opinions surrounding the Portuguese League and the Seleção players based abroad.

Wolves targeting the signing of Portimonense sensation Shoya Nakajima

Wolves targeting the signing of Portimonense sensation Shoya Nakajima

Wolves are in negotiations to bring in Portimonense's Japanese winger Shoya Nakajima for a fee believed to be in the region of €20million.

A Bola report that the Premier League outfit are even “close” to completing the signing, who has attracted interest all over the continent.

Nakajima has been the standout performer in the Primeira Liga since he arrived at the club at the beginning of last season, and has been rewarded for his outstanding form, given his senior Japan debut in March of this year, where he found the back of the net against African side Mali.

His record in his first season in the Portuguese top flight was nothing short of sensational, directly contributing to 22 goals in just 29 league appearances, scoring 10 and assisting 12 as he took the Primeira Liga by storm and led newly-promoted Portimonense to an impressive 10th place finish.

And he has only picked up from where he left off last time around; after a relatively slow start by his lofty standards, he has managed to find the back of the net 5 times in 10 league outings, as well as contributing 4 assists, showing that he is more than just a 'one-season wonder'.

But it's not just his goals and assists that make him such a terrific talent, but his flair, creativity and dribbling ability make him a joy to watch and a huge threat down the left-hand side, particularly on the counter-attack. His pace, directness and unpredictability, added to his clear and natural end-product, makes him the ideal attacking winger, who can, as he has proven in the past, win matches singlehandedly.

And while he may not play for one of the big three sides in Portugal, his incredible efforts in the Primeira Liga have not gone unnoticed, with Premier League clubs Southampton and Leicester both linked with the Japanese attacker in recent weeks.

However, according to A Bola, it is Wolves who are on the verge of snapping up one of the Primeira Liga's most prized assets, where he would join a wealth of players that have already tried their hand at Primeira Liga football including Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves, João Moutinho, Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota, as well as ex-Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nakajima has a release clause of €40million, an astronomical fee for a club like Portimonense, although Wolves are looking to negotiate a fee in the region of €20million, a deal that would prove great value for money for Wolves but also a terrific return for Portimonense, who signed him from FC Tokyo for a fraction of that price.

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