Bruno Lage has apparently looked at Nelson Semedo as a potential alternative option to provide cover at centre-back.
The Portugal international has spent the whole of season, and a big chunk of his time at Wolves, playing as a right wing-back.
He did play a few games at right-back in a back four in 2020/21. And there was actually an occasional when Semedo played as a right winger. But, by and large, right wing-back has been his role at Molineux.
But according to The Times, Semedo is one of three players Lage has looked at as a possible option for the back three.
Romain Saiss, of course, is now with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He will potentially be big loss. And with Willy Boly and Yerson Mosquera currently injured, the manager needs to call on someone who isn’t a natural centre-half.
The Times have done a good interview with Lage, which went live before yesterday’s FA Cup game with Sheffield United.
Within the article, it is stated ‘Halfway through (training), there is a change of pitch dimensions to keep players challenged, and the lineups switch. Marcal, Leander Dendoncker and Nelson Semedo are all trialled as third centre-back as Lage seeks a stand-in for Saiss’.
That would certainly be a turn out for the books.
Semedo is best known for surging up and down the right wing, and it is difficult seeing him operating as (presumably) a right-sided centre-back.
Nelson Semedo showed again yesterday how good a wing-back he has become for Wolves
Semedo has been enjoying a tremendous season for Wolves.
He is looking like a top player now, having struggled initially after his move from Barcelona.
Yesterday against Sheffield United he showed everyone again just how good a wing-back he has become. He was solid defensively, and then used his natural attacking instincts to actually get up and score the second goal of the game. That was his first of the season.
Maybe he would do a good job on the right of a back three. Kyle Walker would be a similar example of a full-back moving into that specific role on occasion.
Surely it’s between Dendoncker and Marcal when it comes to replacing Saiss.
Semedo is flourishing where he is right now. Perhaps it’s best not to disrupt the momentum he has built. Although Lage has worked wonders with many Wolves players since he came in.