Wolves captain Conor Coady has been linked with a shock exit from Molineux – and offloading him would be one of the club’s riskiest decisions in years.
According to reports, Everton are keen on the England international with manager Frank Lampard an admirer of the 29-year-old.
The Express & Star have claimed that Coady could actually depart this month ‘for the right move’.
Coady is determined to make England’s World Cup squad, and he needs to be playing regularly to boost his chances.
Gareth Southgate absolutely loves him. But the Three Lions boss would be in a difficult position if Coady was warming the bench at Molineux in the lead up to Qatar.
And there is a distinct possibility of that happening.
Wolves have been playing with a back four in pre-season. Bruno Lage is thought to have ditched back three training sessions entirely.
The Wolves faithful has been fairly split about the Coady reports on social media today.
Some feel as though it could be the right time for him to move on as Lage tries to usher in a new era.
But it would be one monumental risk from Wolves to offload someone who has been absolutely superb for the club over the years.
Yes, Coady doesn’t look quite as comfortable in a back four. But Lage reportedly may not do away with a back three completely.
And if Wolves are setting up with a three-man defence, then Coady starts every time in the middle.
Thinking less about the football and Coady’s potential game time, Wolves would be losing a world-class captain and leader.
The club has already bid farewell to three experienced players this summer in Fernando Marcal, Romain Saiss and John Ruddy.
They’ve each left holes in the dressing room. Coady departing would leave a chasm.
Wolves are in no position to be offloading Conor Coady, especially on loan
If we are to believe that Lage could still rely on a back three here and there, then the club surely can’t be offloading Coady. At least not yet and at this point in the window.
There is every chance that this move to a back four might not work out. It’s looked good in pre-season, but it might not translate to the Premier League.
It is understandable that £2 million signing Coady may have worries about game time ahead of the World Cup.
But Wolves have to carefully consider the state of play.
Unless there is a truly huge bid from Everton or someone else, and the money is then instantly reinvested into a player who has already been identified, then Wolves must not offload their captain.
And talk of a potential loan move is very concerning. That just wouldn’t help Wolves in any way.