The second most expensive RPL player may soon leave Zenit. In three seasons in Russia, Wendel solidified his status as the best central midfielder in the league and became an essential component of the team’s championship success. His contract with the club is for another four years, but even excellent conditions do not stop the Brazilian from looking for a new team.

Talk about the possible departure of Wendel has been around for a long time: rumors arose throughout the spring and continued into the summer. The club diligently denied all the talk, and only on July 1, Sergei Semak publicly confirmed the likelihood of parting with the leader.

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Zenit’s preparations for the new season are now in full swing, but the head coach does not yet have two important legionnaires at his disposal. Vilmar Barrios was given several extra days off in connection with his international appearances in June. The Colombian should return to St. Petersburg in the near future. Wendel is also expected at Zenit, but it’s not a fact that he will start the season as part of the Blue-White-Blues:

— Wendel is in touch with management. He has a desire to change the club. We understand that this is a quality player, but we will not forcibly keep him, ”Match TV quotes Semak.

It is no secret that Semak takes an active part in breeding work. If in other teams players can be signed without the consent of the head coach, then in Zenit it is difficult to imagine this. Semak’s opinion in the final choice often becomes decisive. In 2020, the desire to get a box-to-box player was embodied in the transfer of a young midfielder from Sporting.

Photo: © FC Zenit

Semak needed a player who could do a lot of work, move the ball in the center of the field and give sharp passes. Prior to the arrival of Vendel, these functions were assigned to Magomed Ozdoev, who, with the advent of a competitor, gradually began to move away from the starting lineup and eventually left the club.

At first, the 20 million euros paid for the Brazilian might seem like too much to some. Legionnaires after moving to the RPL often lose motivation, and their transfer value goes down sharply. Wendel in this sense was a pleasant exception, and his price on Transfermarkt is now even higher than the amount that Zenit laid out three years ago.

Wendel is difficult to attribute to the brightest players on the team, but such is the role of a player in his position. Since the departure of Axel Witsel, Zenit has lacked just such a character in the center of the field: dispersing attacks and, if necessary, able to help in defense. Wendel at Zenit does not just move the ball, but constantly tries to find an aggravation. Technique and a well-placed shot allow the Brazilian not only to play for partners, but also to score himself.

Wendel’s spring goal against Lokomotiv is a real presentation of the Brazilian’s skills. In this episode, he managed to drag the ball, give a pass to a partner and rush into someone else’s penalty area. Such maneuvers have already become his hallmark.

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Last season was the most productive for the midfielder in his career (8 + 3), while the gigantic amount of work in the center of the field remained at the same level. Wendel was especially successful in the first part of the season: in the spring he was no longer so bright, in connection with which there was talk of an imminent departure.

Who will pull the transfer?

Wendel’s desire to change clubs is clearly not enough for a transfer. Without solid compensation, Zenit will definitely not let go of its leader. Taking into account the class of the player, the long contract (until the summer of 2027) and the funds spent on it, a very solid offer should come to St. Petersburg. Start negotiations with an amount less than 20 million euros “Zenith” will not.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Ramil Sitdikov

In May, information appeared in the Italian press about Roma’s interest in Wendel, but this story did not receive any specifics. After the signing of Houssem Aouar from Lyon, who plays in the same position, the likelihood of Wendel’s transfer to the Roman club has fallen to almost zero.

Later there was talk about Fenerbahçe, but this option still does not seem too realistic either. The cunning Turks want to rent the Zenit midfielder with a buyout option. It is unlikely that this will suit the Petersburgers, besides, the financial capabilities of the Istanbul club do not allow making an adequate offer. Until now, Fenerbahce has never spent more than 14 million euros on a player, and in recent years, even such an amount is an unaffordable luxury.

The same problem with the possible transition of Wendel to Flamengo. The Brazilian club is interested in the player, but he is scared off by the price. Here you can speculate about another form of cooperation: the club pays part of the transfer with live money, and compensates for the missing amount with live force. Zenit has already tested such a scheme with Corinthians, where Yuri Alberto moved. As a result, the Petersburgers received several promising players at once and retained half of the rights to the departed striker.

It is important that the player’s agent emphasizes respect for Zenit. Wendel will leave only if there is an offer that suits not only himself, but also the club. Zenit, as Semak says, are really not used to forcibly keeping legionnaires at home. Multi-million sales of Hulk, Witsel and Paredes only confirm this. The likely sale of Wendel is a normal business move that will positively work on the club’s image.

Chance for Kovalenko

Alexander Kovalenko / Photo: © FC Zenit

Right now, Semak does not have an adequate replacement for Wendel at his disposal. In a friendly match against Neftchi, this position was played by Claudinho, who dropped to the center of the field more than once in the previous season. However, this is still a player of a slightly different formation. Judging by the statements of the head coach, he is ready to give a chance to the team’s newcomer Alexander Kovalenko, who was recently bought from Sochi. The midfielder spent the last season on loan in Samara.

– While there is no Vendel, Daler Kuzyaev is looking for a team, we do not have such a large selection of midfield players so that Kovalenko does not have a chance to win the competition. There is a chance, we will help him, let’s hope that he quickly adapts. The player is very talented, – said Semak in a conversation with Match TV.

The 19-year-old pupil of Chertanovo became one of the discoveries of the past season and received a call-up to the Russian national team from Valery Karpin. Age did not prevent him from becoming a solid base player with Igor Osinkin in the Wings and gaining such valuable experience. It is important that it was Semak who was the main initiator of Kovalenko’s invitation: the coach obviously sees the prospects for this guy.

The young Russian has good technique, reads the game well and can do a lot of work. An important quality of Kovalenko is the game under pressure, which is helped by good dribbling and the ability to make quick decisions. But, despite all the talents, in comparison with Wendel, he is a capable student against the backdrop of a professor. Semak will definitely give him a chance to prove himself in pre-season meetings, but the coach probably has other options in his head.

Photo: © Maxim Konstantinov / Match TV

So far, Claudinho seems to be the main alternative to Wendel, but he is able to bring more benefits in the attacking group. There is another newcomer – 23-year-old Du Queiroz, whose capabilities are still a mystery. If Wendel is still sold for the money expected by Zenit, the most realistic option would be to find a direct quality replacement for a key player in the transfer market. The club will have plenty of time before the closing of the summer window.