Newcastle have been linked with a move for Wolves full-back Hugo Bueno
Hugo Bueno of Wolves celebrates scoring against Arsenal(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Newcastle United would be signing an ‘intelligent’ Premier League player with an excellent work ethic if they follow up reported interest in Wolves defender Hugo Bueno this summer.
The Magpies have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who has been one of the brighter lights in a difficult season at Molineux.
The Spain Under-21 international has established himself in the first-team at Wolves following Rayan Ait-Nouri’s move to Manchester City, and has now began to attract attention himself, with Newcastle said to be interested.
United are looking at full-back options this summer to offer competition and support for Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, with Bueno thought to tick many boxes.
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Former Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs played a key role in bringing Bueno to the West Midlands as a youngster, and revealed how he was transformed from a young No 10 into a Premier League-level defender.
“Since joining us as a 16-year-old No 10, the work that Hugo and the coaches have put into changing his position, and the acceptance he had of doing that, shows what a good pro he is,” Hobbs said in 2023.
“To be able to get his head around a new position and develop at the rate he has was incredible.
“Hugo’s one of the huge success stories of the club. Bringing him in from a grassroots team in Spain when he was just 16, and he’s playing in the Premier League and being a regular Premier League player, it’s testament to everyone involved.
“If you ask Hugo, he was a bit of a sulky No 10 who would throw his arms in the air if he didn’t receive the ball, but he came on trial and went to China with the under-18s and what we learned very quickly was his work ethic.
“The day he got back from China, he had exams, and even though the time difference would have been huge, he would play the games in the day and then at night, he would revise ready for the exams.
“He’s intelligent, comes from an intelligent, good family, and what he did have was the attributes where he was going to get the absolutely best out of his ability and it just so happens that the best of his ability is a really good footballer, an under-21 international, and a very good Premier League player.”
Hugo Bueno scores Wolves’ first goal against Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Bueno has been a rare success story in a difficult campaign for Wolves, and scored his first Premier League goal for the club in their impressive 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” he said of his strike. “I was able to get my first Premier League goal, at home, and it’s something I wanted to do for a long time, so I’m super happy.
“It wasn’t an easy match at all, losing 2-0, but we knew we had to keep pushing, keep working, keep believing and in the end, we got the result.
“There’s a lot of work behind the scenes, and it’s not been an easy season, so to get a little reward today was amazing.”
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