Wolves might not have much to shout about this season, but Emmanuel Agbadou’s January arrival is certainly one of them.
Agbadou joined Wolves from Stade Reims after the Old Gold missed out on Kevin Danso.
Vitor Pereira will be thankful the footballing stars aligned to bring the African to Molineux instead, though.
Not only has Agbadou become an instant fan favourite, but his already-established chemistry with teammates, along with his performances at the heart of Wolves’ defence, have helped transform the whole team.
Emmanuel Agbadou outperforming Murillo
Interestingly, despite Agbadou’s mammoth performances for Wolves, he isn’t one of the Premier League’s most discussed central defenders. He’s going under the radar, unlike some rival players.
Nottingham Forest’s Murillo has also had an excellent campaign and, as a result, is now wanted by several big clubs, including last season’s champions, Manchester City.
Despite the recent links, Nuno Espirito Santo was thrilled when the 22-year-old penned a new deal at the start of the year.
“He is a player with immense talent. He can improve immensely due to his age,” the former Wolves boss told the Nottingham Post.
Irrespective of the hype surrounding Murillo, though, Agbadou beats the Brazilian in several key areas.
Even though Forest and Wolves are at opposite ends of the table, and have been all season, Wolves’ number 12 is outperforming one of the league’s best.
As can be seen from Agbadou’s defensive stats, the 27-year-old is playing the best football of his career.
It isn’t just outright defensive actions Agbadou is excelling at. The centre-back is also registering more accurate passes, including long balls, than Forest’s resolute South American.
Agbadou also covers a lot more ground, both forward and laterally. He often showcases unbreakable confidence with marauding runs in search of that midfield-splitting ball, a vital component in Pereira’s demanding 3-5-2 system.
Importance unrivalled
Despite Agbadou playing fewer matches than other top defenders, he is showing no signs of inexperience.
Quite the opposite in fact…
The African’s calmness at the back has helped the side’s more forward-thinking players, including flying wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, to progress through the phases, adding more attacking threat.
As a result, Agbadou is one of the first names on Pereira’s teamsheet, with his impact a rare shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
The former Stade Reims star will play another key role next season as Pereira surely fancies a go at European qualification.