Free transfer Patricio 'to cost Wolves £18m'

Wolves will reportedly pay Sporting Lisbon £18m for Rui Patricio despite signing him on a free transfer in the summer.

Patricio signed a four-year deal with the midlands club and originally cost them nothing as no fee was paid to Sporting.

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The Portuguese international cancelled his contract in Portugal after a training ground attack on players by fans in May.

While the player and his new club might have believed that left him free to sign a contract elsewhere, his former club have contested their opinion.

Seven other players at the club followed suit, including William Carvalho and Bas Dost.

Following the training ground controversy, Sporting have elected Frederico Varandas as the new club president.

According to Portuguese paper A Bola, they are now on the verge of agreeing a compensation deal with Wolves to draw the matter to a close for a fee of around £18m.