Joe Mason is set to return to Wolves after Colorado Rapids decided he no longer has a future at the club.

According to National MLS Soccer writer Sam Stejskal, Mason is on his way back to Molineux.

He tweeted: "Late night news: Told that Colorado are close to signing ex-HOU, VAN, ORL attacker Giles Barnes from Leon. Club waived Joe Mason earlier in week. He cleared waivers today and is returning to Wolverhampton. Barnes made just three appearances, all in Copa MX, in six months w/ Leon."

That means Mason will now return to his parent club to learn where his future lies.

The 27-year-old scored three times in thirteen appearances for Colorado after a thirty-five game stint at Wolves.

He scored for Rapids on his debut against Kansas City, see below:

He signed for Wolves in 2016 from Cardiff for an undisclosed fee.

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Now he will be looking to either end his time at Wolves or try and convince Nuno Espirito Santo he is worthy of a place in his squad.

Miranda

When Roderick Miranda left the Wolves tour in Switzerland it signalled his last business as a Wolves player, this season.

Miranda has joined Greek side Olympiacos on loan and the 27-year-old moves on after serving only one year of a four-year deal at Molineux.

He signed from Rio Ave and made 19 appearances across the season.

But he has now made an early exit as Nuno Espirito Santo shakes up the squad ahead of the Premier League campaign.

Miranda, a former Portugal Under-20 international, came through Benfica's academy and spent time on loan with Swiss side Servette and Spanish club Deportivo before signing for Rio Ave and then Wolves in 2017.

He joins fellow Portuguese Daniel Podence in signing for Olympiacos this summer, with the 22-year-old winger having moved from Sporting.

Olympiacos, Greece's most successful club, finished third in the Superleague last season and were knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League.

They will enter this season's Europa League in the third qualifying round.

A look at all the latest Wolves news and gossip from the last twenty-four hours.

Ban?

Sporting Lisbon have lodged a complaint to FIFA regarding the transfer of Rui Patricio to Wolverhampton Wanderers and have astonishingly demanded that both the club and the player be handed bans.

Wolves completed the signing of goalkeeper Patricio last month while he was out in Russia with the Portugal squad at the World Cup.

The 30-year-old made clear his intentions of leaving the Estádio José Alvalade this summer after falling out with then club president Bruno de Carvalho, though the Wolves deal actually initially collapsed.

He then took the step of writing to Sporting requesting to cancel his contract.

Penning a 34-page document, Patricio outlined his intentions to terminate his deal and other players followed suit after a number of Sporting’s key players and staff were attacked by a 50-strong group of masked thugs at the club’s training ground in May.

He cited physical and psychological abuse as reasoning for his request to be released from his contract in the Portuguese capital, and eventually completed a move to Molineux, signing a four-year contract.

Sporting, however, are not happy with how the stopper left the club, and complained at the time about the role that Wolves’ associate Jorge Mendes and his agency Gestifute played.

The consequently approached Spanish lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo Perez, who is believed to be an expert in sports law. He has overseen the completion of the document, which is 63 pages long.

They request that global governing body FIFA ban Wolves for two transfer windows and Patricio himself from playing football in any form for six months.

Sporting also believe they are entitled to compensation for how the episode panned out, and are demanding almost £50m from Wanderers.

Wolves insist they have done nothing wrong and are confident that the deal they've agreed with Patricio is legally secure, so now an agreement must arrive otherwise FIFA will be forced to make a decision either way.

You can read the document in full via Portuguese newspaper Record’s website here .

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Wolves struck victory in the Uhrencup in Switzerland with a 2-1 victory over FC Basel.

Goals came from Diogo Jota and Rafa Mir in a game that saw Wolves field different teams in each half.

Birmingham Mail columnist Ryan Leister was in the stands to give his verdict.

Lowdown on Gomes

Reported Wolverhampton Wanderers target Andre Gomes came through the youth ranks at Porto and Benfica before moving on to Valencia and eventually European Giants Barcelona.

He is now tipped with a move to the Midlands to bolster Wolves' Portuguese contingent.

Here is the lowdown on the 24-year-old midfielder:

Background

Having started his career at Porto's youth team, Dragon Force, Gomes progressed to Porto's under-15's before making the switch to Boavista.

There he played for the under-17 side, Boavista Sub-17, and gained his first caps for Portugal's youth teams.

After progressing to the under-19's he moved to Benfica's youth team on a free transfer and made his first appearance for the first team in 2012.

Two years later Gomes is loaned out to Valencia and makes his debut for Portugal's senior team. His move is made permanent in 2015 with a transfer fee of £18 million.

In July 2016 his value had risen to £33.3 million and he had signed for FC Barcelona.

In his first season at Camp Nou he made 47 appearances, scoring 3 goals and creating 3 assists. The following campaign he was picked 31 times and registered 1 assist.

Gomes now plays predominantly in central midfield but has been utilised on both wings.

Wolves links

Gomes' connection with Jorge Mendes in the main fuel for these rumours and Spanish news corporation Mundo Deportivo have linked the midfielder with a move away, Wolves being his likely destination.

Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested in Gomes who was omitted from Portugal's World Cup squad.

Lazio are also said to be keen but a move could depend on the sale of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic who is likely to depart.

Arsenal are another who are reported to be interested.

What his managers have said

Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde after Gomes admitted to struggling to cope with the pressure.

"It was very brave for Gomes to admit how he was feeling, in such a public manner.

"All the players, the manager, the coaches, we are careful not to give out insecurities or weakness, so it was a very brave act.

Things you will only get if you support... VILLA BLUES ALBION WOLVES

"But it’s nothing new. He is not the only one. It’s something which happened to most of us.

"It’s something you have to face and overcome. It’s a question of pushing forward. It’s not something I haven’t experienced throughout my career as a manager.

"Andre has a lot of good qualities, so maybe tomorrow will be the day he gives us his best performance."

Jorge Jesus

Jorge Jesus managed Gomes during his time at Benfica.

"André Gomes can make two positions, the second half, area to area, as we call it, and the a midfielder who is more defensively positioned and has physical and technical characteristics to do so, and I think that in a short time it will be said in Benfica. "

What the fans have said

Keyser Soze: I really hope it's us! I know his stock has fallen a touch and it's not worked out at Barca (ala Andre Silva at Milan) but they bought him in the first place for a reason.

Would be a an unbelievable coup and you'd back Nuno and co to get him back to his best, which would be phenomenal. £30M seems a good price

This window is such a tease!

WolvesKop: Would be a great signing. Would be the marquee signing we are expecting . But I will not get my hopes up

Stafford: So this guy, Cancelo and Neves all haven't made the Portuguese squad but yet they're 25/1 to win the thing. Have we over hyped them?

AlexWolvesHD: Could see Barca using him as part of a deal with Spurs for Eriksen. Would love to see him come here though.

How touching!

Aston Villa have released their new kits for the upcoming 2018/2019 season - and the club have paid homage to local rivals West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their new design.

The club shared the new images of their latest kit on Monday morning as new designer LUKE 1977 gives a nod to tradition with the latest strips.

The home shirt features two shades of claret in vertical stripes, with a blue trim on the collar and sleeves with a stripe down the side.

(Image: avfc.co.uk)

The away shirt takes inspiration from the white strip worn by Tony Barton's side as they lifted the European Cup in 1982.

William McGregor, was involved with Aston Villa for over 20 years in different roles including president, director and chairman.

He is also considered the catalyst for the formation of the Football League in 1888 and the new designs pay homage to him on the back of the collar which features a symbol of McGregor’s famous statue outside Villa Park.

The club's new kit also represents the other 11 founding members of the Football League.

Villa said on their club website: "Across the sleeves and collar, you'll find 12 subtle claret stripes – one for each of Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers."

The kits will be available for pre-order on Monday from 11am – and will be on sale from Wednesday July 18 at 9am.

Villa will wear their new kit in their first pre-season friendly fixtures at Kidderminster Harriers and Telford on July 14.

Zinchenko competition

Wolves are reportedly set to move for versatile Manchester City player Oleksandr Zinchenko - but aren't the only side who want to sign him.

Zinchenko is said to be on Wolves' radar - and Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been linked with a club-record £16m bid for the Ukraine international.

He was drafted into City's first-team squad in October 2017, making his debut in the Carabao Cup against Wolves and going on to 15 appearances across the season.

Eight of those came in the Premier League which was enough to earn the left-footed winger or defender a winners' medal in his breakthrough campaign.

But Wolves could face competition for the 21-year-old in the form of Newcastle United who have entered the race to sign him, according to reports.

It is said that Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is monitoring the situation ahead of the start of the new Premier League season - and Zinchenko may soon have a decision to make.

City boss Guardiola raved about Zinchenko, speaking a month after the former PSV Eindhoven loanee made his senior bow last year.

He told the Manchester Evening news: “I decided to bring Aleks Zinchenko into the squad because he's training amazing.”

Guardiola added: “Normally he is an attacking midfielder but he can play winger or full back as well. Against Wolves, who are first in the Championship and gave us a difficult game, he played full back and did really well.

“He is a talented player, so clear, so clean. The way he plays, his decisions are always perfect. As a young player I hope in the future he will help us.

“He is going to stay for the whole (last) season with us because I have the feeling we are going to use him.”

Domino effect?

The news that Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid for Juventus today has led to speculation that the Serie A champions may need to sell a few players to ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play.

Ronaldo, 33, has completed a move to Italy for a fee in excess of £100m and has agreed a four-year contract worth more than £500,000 a week - a deal that familiar face Jorge Mendes aided.

Juve will now look to move on a number of existing squad members, including Stefano Sturaro.

Sturaro came through the ranks at Genoa before signing for Juventus in 2014. He’s made 64 Serie A appearances for the Old Lady and has helped them to four straight league titles.

Sturaro has also played four times for Italy since making his national team debut in 2016.

Sturaro, 25, has been heavily linked with Newcastle United this summer and, according to sources in Italy, is holding out for a move to Tyneside.

But his agent, Carlo Volpi, has told Sport Italia Sturaro’s move to Newcastle isn’t a foregone conclusion.

Volpi said: “Not just Newcastle on him, but other clubs as well. “Who? Ah, you know, for sure, Wolverhampton and Southampton have had a little thought.”

The likelihood of Sturaro’s exit from Juve appears to have edged closer with the signing of Ronaldo.

Major names such as Gonzalo Higuain and Alex Sandro could also make way.

Wolves, who are out in Switzerland for pre-season training this week, have already added Rui Patricio and Raul Jimenez but they are unlikely to be finished there.

Transfer latest

Wolves will continue to press on with business in the transfer market but will ensure any potential new signings fits the right criteria, boss Nuno Espirito Santo said after agreeing a new deal.

Nuno, who penned a contract extension until 2021, will only target players who have the right "quality, ambition, and the will" to come to Molineux.

The club have already signed Rui Patricio, sealed permanent deals for Willy Boly, Leo Bonatini, Diogo Jota and Ruben Vinagre - and brought in Raul Jimenez on loan.

Wolves continue to be linked with players and their incoming business is not yet complete as they prepare for life back in the Premier League after romping home to the Championship title last term.

“When we came (to Wolves) there was a big challenge in front of us,” Nuno told wolves.co.uk . “I think the Championship is one of the most challenging competitions in the world.

“So we started with the ambition to have a team that could compete in every game and create an identity that was a shape, a formation, that allowed us to go through all the competition playing the same stye, in the same way.

“We did it, and we achieved what we wanted. We have a team, and we are in the Premier League, and we are now in year two.

“In year two we know the challenge is even more difficult, but we have something that we hold onto - we have our own identity. The players know how we play, they know and understand our game.

“We have to hold onto it, further develop the performance of some players, getting them to a higher level, and at the same time we will increase the quality.

“When you speak about increasing the quality, of course the squad is going to change.

All you need to know about Wolves now WOLVES NEWSLETTER TRANSFERS FIXTURES UNDER 23s

“We need to bring in players and we will do so, but it is very difficult to find the right ones, because the quality that we have already is high.

“There are other things we have to look at: the quality of the player, the ambition of the player, and the will to come to Wolves and help this big club become even bigger, in the best competition that is the Premier League. It is going to be a challenge for everybody."

Nuno's coaches Rui Pedro Silva, Rui Barbosa, Antonio Dias, Joao Lapa and Julio Figueroa have also put pen to paper on contract extensions while Ian Cathro has also been brought in this summer.

Nuno continued: "I am very thankful because of the trust and the confidence that the club puts in us as a technical team.

“My team really work as a team. First of all we are friends, we respect each other, we admire each other and we work for the same goal.

“That goal is to find every detail we can to help the team to perform well, compete well, and fortunately win.

“We knew that the project required time and now we have three years ahead of us of contract, and we are very, very thankful and delighted to be here.”

He added: “The way we did it last year was absolutely amazing - I cannot thank the supporters enough. But at the same time I humbly ask, let’s do it again. Together we are stronger.”

More Wolves news



Roderick Miranda is reportedly set to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Greek side Olympiacos, according to reports in Portugal.

Miranda is part of the Wolves squad who have travelled to Switzerland to take part in the Uhrencup friendly tournament beginning with a clash against FC Basel this evening - however Record reports that the 27-year-old has now travelled to Greece to discuss details of the transfer.

The defender joined Wolves last summer on a four-year deal from Rio Ave and made 19 appearances across the season.

But he could now be set for an early Molineux exit as Nuno looks to shake up the squad ahead of the Premier League campaign.

Miranda, a former Portugal Under-20 international, came through Benfica's academy and spent time on loan with Swiss side Servette and Spanish club Deportivo before signing for Rio Ave and then Wolves in 2017.

He could join fellow Portuguese Daniel Podence in signing for Olympiacos this summer, with the 22-year-old winger having moved from Sporting.

Olympiacos, Greece's most successful club, finished third in the Superleague last season and were knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League.

They will enter this season's Europa League in the third qualifying round.

Backing

More people are backing Wolves to win the Premier League than Manchester United, with Nuno Espritos’ side among the most popular punts.

Despite the vast difference in the two teams’ title odds (7/1 for Man United, 300/1 for Wolves), it is the Black Country outfit that are more favoured.

In the last two weeks, 12% of total Premier League Winner bets have gone on Wolves, compared to just 8% for United.

Wolves are by far the promoted side expected to fare the best, with bookies offering just 11/10 for a top-half finish (Compared to 16/1 and 6/1 for Cardiff and Fulham respectively).

Man City remain the bookies’ favourite to win back-to-back titles at 2/3, with Liverpool second favourites at 11/2 and Chelsea 14/1.

The Citizens are also the best backed side in the last two weeks, racking up 24% of total bets.

Oddschecker spokesman George Elek: “We know that Wolves have the potential to light up the Premier League next season and that there are still questions marks surrounding Jose Mourinho’s Man United.

“However, Nuno’s side are proving far more popular than the Red Devils.

"It might not be ‘doing a Leicester’ but the 300/1 price quoted goes to show how astonishing it would be!”

Kamara lowdown

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with Dundee's Glen Kamara.

The former Arsenal midfielder is said to be on Wolves' radar as Nuno Espirito Santo continues to shape his squad ahead of the start of the Premier League season.

Nuno said this week that the club are targeting further additions having already signed Rui Patricio, sealed permanent deals for Willy Boly, Leo Bonatini, Diogo Jota and Ruben Vinagre - and brought in Raul Jimenez on loan.

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But who is Kamara?

Here's what you need to know about him and his transfer situation.