It is always interesting to see how players fare once they leave Wolves – and one man who departed a couple of years ago is now really starting to shine.
The summer of 2023 was rather memorable one.
Wolves were under big financial pressure due to PSR, and a number of players were ultimately sold.
It was a necessary step for the club to take, after splashing a lot of cash in previous windows.
Wolves have only just got their finances in order and can hopefully now spend a bit more freely in the some. Of course, staying in the Premier League will be paramount.
But looking back to that summer 2023, there were a few players fans were really upset to see leave.
Ruben Neves was the big one, but there was also sadness over the likes of Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore leaving.
Nathan Collins also left, although the feeling about his exit was more split. But now, the Republic of Ireland international is really thriving.
- READ MORE: Nathan Collins gives classy response after some Wolves fans booed him on his return to Molineux
Nathan Collins has come good for Brentford since leaving Wolves
Collins was part of that Wolves fire-sale in 2023 on Julen Lopetegui’s watch, leaving the club for around £23 million (BBC Sport).
It was an interesting sale, because that only netted Wolves a small profit of around £3 million.
Collins had only joined Wolves the summer before. But after some inconsistent showings in old gold, it was decided by Lopetegui that he should go.
Collins admitted he never really wanted to leave Wolves, but the decision was made, and he joined Brentford.
There wasn’t a great deal of frustration when Collins left as there was an acceptance he didn’t quite live up to expectation for Wolves.
But the decision to sell actually now looks slightly questionable from a Wolves perspective, with Collins having seriously impressed in 2024/25.
In the Premier League, Collins features near the top of several metrics so far.
No player in the division has made more blocks than him (37), and he is also joint-sixth for last man tackles made.
Furthermore, Collins sits third for clearances , making 154 so far – only Murillo and James Tarkowski have made more.
Collins has also excelled in the air, winning 87 aerial battles, which places him third of all Premier League players.
Collins is realising his potential
Given Lopetegui’s feelings about the player, his exit from Molineux was perhaps inevitable in the end.
But it is slightly frustrating now to see him doing so well at Brentford, especially with Lopetegui having left Wolves just weeks after that sale of Collins.
Who knows if Gary O’Neil might have prevented his exit.
Wolves were under financial pressure of course, but perhaps another player could have departed instead.
Even when Collins was struggling at Wolves, Collins was liked by several big clubs who seemingly felt he had genuine potential to become a top centre-back in the Premier League.
It now looks as though he’s realising that potential, and Wolves could end up having some regrets.