Wolves transfer target Jason Denayer is reportedly set to make a move to UAE outfit Shabab Al Ahli.
The journalist has reported this afternoon that an agreement between player and club is ‘imminent’.
Denayer will now supposedly fly to the UAE for further talks, and final details will be discussed. All being well, he will sign a contract.
It is a blow for Wolves, who had shown an interest in Denayer as a potential replacement for Willy Boly, who left the club on deadline day.
Wanderers had focused their efforts on signing Craig Dawson from West Ham United.
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But the Irons blocked the move after failing to sign Jan Bednarek from Southampton.
It meant that Wolves have gone into the first half of 2022/23 with only four centre-halves, with two of those – Yerson Mosquera and Toti Gomes – lacking experience.
It was reported a few weeks ago that Wolves’ negotiations with Denayer had reached an impasse.
The suggestion was that Wolves didn’t want to offer any more than they had.
And the player was unwilling to lower his own demands.
And it seems the lack of a compromise has allowed Al Ahli to come in and make a move for the player, who is looking for a new club ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Big blow for Wolves with Jason Denayer set to join Shabab Al Ahli
This is not good news for Wolves.
Arguably, Denayer is the best unattached centre-back out there at the moment, and he would have been a good addition to the squad.
It is certainly an eyebrow raising move. And one that perhaps indicates Denayer is being offered a lucrative pay day.
Ultimately, he is still only 27 and has just finished a four-year spell at Lyon. He is easily good enough to be playing for a club in a top five European league.
It looks as though Wolves will now have to consider other free agents, or simply just try and make it through to the winter window.