How good is Wolves’ new left-back David Moller Wolfe, and how does he stack up against Rayan Ait-Nouri?
When Rayan Ait-Nouri left Wolves at the beginning of the window, fans were rightfully panicking over losing such an integral component of Vitor Pereira’s side.
Although the blow was softened by Man City’s £36 million bid, finding a player with a similar skillset wasn’t going to be easy.
But Moller Wolfe looks promising. He replaced Milos Kerkez at AZ Alkmaar when the Hungarian made the switch to English football. While not a sure sign, this could indicate a similar style of play to Liverpool’s new left-back, a welcome idea for Wolves fans.
The club appear to be happy with the Moller Wolfe signing, having seen enough from the scouting process to pull the trigger and fill an important vacancy.
David Moller Wolfe bests Rayan Ait-Nouri in ball progression
Last season established Ait-Nouri as a world-class left-back, with the Algerian carrying much of the creative burden for Wolves while remaining solid defensively.
His numbers on both sides of the ball were amazing, and yet Moller Wolfe does not look all that far off.
In fact, the Norwegian bested Ait-Nouri in progressive carries and progressive passes last season, showing a forward-thinking mindset that Vitor Pereira wants from his full-back.
When you take a look at their numbers side by side, it’s clear that Ait-Nouri has an edge overall, but that’s what you would expect. Moller Wolfe comes close enough in those areas to suggest a good fit.
David Moller Wolfe can fill the void left by Rayan Ait-Nouri
At 23, Moller Wolfe is already an established international player for Norway. He is described as being composed and mature in his decision-making, unafraid to be physical when required.
His ball-carrying is elite for the position and he will certainly give Wolves another option going forward.
After three successful years in the Eredivisie, Moller Wolfe was destined to follow in Kerkez’s footsteps and make a move to the Premier League.
Whether he can find the same success remains to be seen, though from a statistical standpoint, he looks to be the archetype of player Pereira needs in the Ait-Nouri-sized void at the back.