Wolves could face a dilemma in the summer as a host of Gary O’Neil’s stars are said to be generating interest, with the future of Rayan Ait-Nouri having the potential to cause worry at Molineux.
Wolves’ sights are firmly set on the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign, as Gary O’Neil eyes further success with his ambitious squad at Molineux.
The Old Gold are within touching distance of the European places in the Premier League table, as well as being one win away from a trip to Wembley in the FA Cup.
Despite the successes that have been seen so far this season, there will be a sense of anxiety when it comes to nearing the end of the campaign, with a host of Wolves stars already being linked with moves away in the summer.
Wolves have a host of players that could exit in the summer
Last summer was a treacherous time for Wolves, as stars such as Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes departed the club with Fosun unable to replace their talents due to financial restrictions.
Somehow, O’Neil has turned things around from the woes that Julen Lopetegui faced ahead of the 2023/24 season however, the Englishman could suffer a similar fate to the former boss.
Throughout the campaign, Pedro Neto has been a topic of conversation when it comes to his future, as the Portuguese jewel continues to shine in the Old Gold.
It’s been speculated that the 24-year-old could go for a price in the region of £80m in the transfer window, with clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool documented to be fans of the winger’s talents.
With two goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season, the forward has shown his worth in O’Neil’s system however, losing his presence in the summer may not be as detrimental as another Wolves star linked with a transfer.
Losing Rayan Ait-Nouri could be worse for Wolves than losing Pedro Neto
Back in January, it was reported by Football Transfers that defender Rayan Ait-Nouri is also a point of interest for both Arsenal and Liverpool.
The 22-year-old has been formidable for the Old Gold this season, being a player that would be incredibly difficult for O’Neil to replace in his system.
While the same could be said for Neto, whose threat is seemingly endless in the final third, many players can exert the pace and direct nature that the Portugal international does on a weekly basis.
When it comes to a player like Ait-Nouri, his role in O’Neil’s squad is far more niche, with his versatility not as easily traceable as the traits found in Neto’s style of play.
Lauded as “quality” by BBC Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams for his recent performance against Fulham, the Algerian has showcased that he can provide an innate cover in a host of areas for the manager.
The £10k-a-week fullback provides a unique amount of cover for the boss, something that is not easily replaced in the market.
Only time will tell if links regarding Ait-Nouri’s future are to be believed however, O’Neil will certainly hope to keep hold of the youngster as he continues to build his project at Molineux.