Edwards says Wolves need a player like Doucoure or Pogba

Former Wales international David Edwards knows what it takes to play in midfield for Wolves.

He made 307 appearances for the club between 2008 and 2017.

Edwards has given his verdict on what Wolves need in the transfer window speaking to the Shropshire Star.

He feels Bruno Lage needs a central midfielder who can come in and offer the first team some physicality and picked out two Premier League examples.

“The motto has always been about building for the future with young players, with value,” said Edwards.

“But it feels like it needs something for the now – a central midfielder to walk into the team and add more physicality than what they have now, someone who can travel with the ball.

“Someone like an Abdoulaye Doucoure or a Paul Pogba style of runner as they haven’t really got that. I fell like they need someone of that ilk in midfield.

“I think it’s about adding two or three players to the starting XI – not the squad but the starting XI. That’s the most important thing this summer.”

Where do you find a player like Pogba?

The first thing to note is that Bruno Lage is expected to prefer a 4-4-2 system next season.

That may mean that the deep-lying duo of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are found a little short of legs – although they of course have huge passing quality.

In that system, a ball carrier could link the team together, although of course the balance of the team is all-important.

Even Pogba himself probably wouldn’t be risked as one of a central midfield duo in a 4-4-2.

And the next question is: where do you find a ball carrying midfielder in the transfer market?

There aren’t many around, they tend to cost a pretty penny and usually want to play in Europe.

Obviously Everton pilfered Watford when they got relegated and perhaps a powerful midfielder like Sander Berge from demoted Sheffield United would be a similar move.

In all likelihood, it’ll come down to whether Jorge Mendes can find one for Wolves and whether Lage approves them.

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