Bruno Lage this morning named Morgan Gibbs-White as his captain in Wolves’ second pre-season game of their trip to Spain.
Wanderers are taking on Levante, as they seek to build on last night’s 4-0 win over Deportivo Alaves.
The starting XI was very different, with most of Wolves’ big-hitters starting on the bench.
The only two players that kept their starting berths from yesterday were Leander Dendoncker and Gibbs-White.
And interestingly, Gibbs-White was handed the captain’s armband for the contest.
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One might have though Dendoncker would have assumed the armband.
The Belgian was the oldest in the team and is obviously an experienced first-teamer.
But Gibbs-White has handed the armband, which feels like a big gesture from Lage.
The 22-year-old’s future is currently up in the air, with a number of teams taking an interest in him.
Everton, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Crystal Palace have all been credited with an interest in the midfielder in recent weeks.
Gibbs-White, of course, had a solid season in 2021/22 on loan at Sheffield United, and it is little wonder interest is high.
But Wolves want to keep hold of their academy graduate, and have apparently placed a £30 million valuation on him.
Lage clearly taken by Gibbs-White with captain’s armband gesture
The fact Lage decided to make Gibbs-White his skipper this morning feels significant.
There is a lot of speculation right now, and it is not a given Gibbs-White will still be a Wolves player come the end of the transfer window.
We’ve read how Lage supposedly really rates him.
That does appear to be the case with the manager making him captain against Levante over Dendoncker, who would surely have been the most natural selection.
Perhaps it is something Gibbs-White will appreciate and therefore be more inclined to stay.