Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced a highly eventful summer transfer window so far, with no indication of the activity slowing down anytime soon.
Key players Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri left voids to be addressed following their departures to Manchester United and Manchester City, valued at a combined £98 million. Wolves have responded by signing two wingers, Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo and Jhon Arias from Fluminense, but there’s still much work to be done.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s loan from Celta becoming permanent is a significant advantage, as he demonstrated his effectiveness as a potent striker last season, though the £23 million transfer fee significantly impacts the budget. The acquisitions of Lopez and Arias, reportedly costing a combined £34.5 million, also took a substantial portion.
Who might Wolves pursue before the window closes? While Lopez and Arias will enhance the attack, Wanderers have yet to fully replace Cunha. A new left wing-back has been secured to fill Ait-Nouri’s role, but additional transfers are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Wolves race Sunderland to sign £25.8m Leverkusen talent:
To boost creativity in attack, Wolves have reportedly shifted their focus to versatile Bayer Leverkusen star Amine Adli. German publication Bild reports Wanderers have submitted an initial offer to sign Adli but have not yet met Leverkusen’s asking price of approximately €30 million (£25.8m).
Wolves aren’t the only Premier League club interested in Adli, as newly promoted Sunderland have also been linked. Journalist Julien Laurens revealed on Tuesday (July 29) that the Black Cats are vying with Wanderers’ bid.
Adli, primarily a left winger but also capable of playing on the right or just behind the striker, has been a key substitute for the past four seasons. Now 25 years old, the Morocco international has scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in 94 appearances for Leverkusen, averaging a direct goal contribution every 155 minutes.
Vitor Pereira targeting new centre-back:
Potential targets—at least according to recent reports—include Brighton & Hove Albion’s Igor Julio, Bologna’s Jhon Lucumi, Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga, Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen, and Rennes’ Christopher Wooh.
Of those, Igor might be the most suitable. Vitor Pereira would prefer to sign a left-footed defender to compete with Toti Gomes on the left of the back three, and Igor, slightly lower in Brighton’s hierarchy but still highly capable, could be an excellent choice.
In his prime at 27, Igor can operate as a centre-half or at left-back. The Brazilian is a formidable defender and displays great composure when distributing from the back. Former Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi personally selected Igor as a signing.
Wolves sign Ait-Nouri replacement:
Wolves have been deliberate in securing a new left wing-back and have been linked with several candidates, including Brondby’s Clement Bischoff, Gent’s Archie Brown, and Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas. Another possibility was to rely on players like Rodrigo Gomes and Hugo Bueno already at the club.
Instead, Wanderers have moved to sign David Moller Wolfe from AZ Alkmaar. Costing £9.5 million plus add-ons, the Norway international left-back is expected to be an immediate starter at Molineux after passing a medical and signing a long-term contract.
Moller Wolfe is highly regarded in the Netherlands and Norway for his exceptional passing ability. He’s also commended for his solid defensive positioning and physicality. If anything, Wolves may benefit more from Moller Wolfe than Ait-Nouri, as their former left wing-back occasionally lacked the defensive qualities needed to support the back three.
West Ham star an option to fill in for Nelson Semedo:
The Old Gold have presented captain Nelson Semedo with a substantial new four-year contract, but he has yet to sign, and it’s becoming increasingly probable that he has played his final match for the club.
Veteran right-back Matt Doherty and Brazilian rising star Pedro Lima could step in for the time being, but Wolves would benefit from greater depth in that position.
One player linked as a possible replacement for Semedo is Vladimir Coufal, who recently departed West Ham United. The Czech Republic international, now 32, is a free agent, and rumors indicate Wolves are contemplating an approach.
Though no longer at the peak of his abilities, Coufal has amassed 147 Premier League appearances and could offer valuable expertise.