Wolves have today confirmed that Bendeguz Bolla has returned to Grasshoppers for another loan spell.
The 22-year-old spent the 2021/22 season with the Swiss outfit, making 32 appearances in total.
It was a productive spell for the youngster, who really took the his right wing-back role.
He scored four goals and made three assists, and finished the term with a nomination for their Player of the Season.
Some felt as though Bolla might have been in with a chance of becoming a member of Bruno Lage’s first-team.
But he’s now heading back to Grasshoppers for another stint.
Strategic player marketing manager Matt Jackson said (via Wolves official): “It’s good continuation for him. He was excellent last season and is comfortable in the environment. He’s established himself in the international squad and this move should allow that to continue. We want him to really impose himself and be one of the best players in the league next season.”
The news comes days after the club loaned out Ki-Jana Hoever.
The former Liverpool man has returned to his homeland, and will be turning out for PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23.
So that’s two young right wing-backs heading out, which leaves Nelson Semedo as the only out-and-out right-sided defender.
Jonny Castro Otto showed he is more than capable of being an option. But the Spaniard prefers to play on the left and will likely be mainly used in rotation with Rayan Ait-Nouri.
One wonders, then, if this does indeed mean that Lage sees Chiquinho as a genuine option to play as a wing-back.
Chiquinho looks set for opportunities at wing-back for Wolves, as club loan out Bolla and Hoever
Presuming Wolves don’t dip into the transfer market for a new right-sided defender – and there have been no indications so far that they will – then it looks as though Chiquinho could be an alternative to Semedo next season.
Fernando Marcal has left, meaning Jonny will likely be mainly playing on the left.
Earlier this year, Lage did actually say Chiquinho ‘can play as an attacking right-back’.
Tim Spiers also said recently (Talking Wolves End of Season podcast) that he is seen as an option for the position.
The decisions on Bolla and Hoever would certainly suggest that is the plan.