There has been a noticeable drop-off in creativity at Wolves since Matheus Cunha departed.
Vitor Pereira has been trying out plenty of different line-ups in recent games, and there have been signs of improvement in the attacking play.
But the creativity and genius of Matheus Cunha is sorely missed, and Wolves need that kind of spark from somewhere.
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It could very well come from a player who tops the Premier League in a promising, albeit speculative stat.
Fer Lopez is a creative spark when he plays
Since signing from Celta Vigo early in the summer window, Fer Lopez has been in and out of Pereira’s XI, as he adjusts to English football. But when he has featured, he has been elite in the Premier League at creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Lopez leads the league in Expected Assists (xA) per 90, with 0.44.
‘Expected’ stats are often a point of contention, with some fans unconvinced by the stat’s merit. But just to give some context, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Martin Odegaard are some of the names the Spaniard is ahead of. Chelsea’s 18-year-old phenom Estevao is in second place.
Of course, the lack of minutes inflates both Estevao and Lopez’s numbers, but they are showing an ability to get things going in attack even in short spells.
That’s exactly the area in which Wolves need to improve, so starting Lopez in the forward line is a no-brainer.
Lopez needs to be thrust into action
Lopez’s career is unusual. The 21-year-old has very little professional experience under his belt, only emerging last season.
But his ability is undeniable. He’s an exciting watch, and someone who always wants to impact the game.
Wolves fans have been impressed by Lopez in the glimpses they have caught, but he needs to be a more regular contributor.
Pereira is naturally cautious about asking too much, too soon, but with the position Wolves find themselves in, they need a maverick like Lopez to win games with individual brilliance.
It’s time he was given that chance.