With the January transfer window set to open in less than two weeks, here are three Wolves players that Gary O’Neil should look to loan out next month.
Wolves have seen a lot of movement over the past 12 months. Multiple players have come and gone with the team almost completely different.
In this time Julen Lopetegui has also departed with Gary O’Neil now looking forward to his first full transfer window at Wolves.
In January he has already been looking to offload some of his squad as he has an eye on new targets.
However, there could also be plenty of players who depart the club on loan in search of more game time and a more consistent run of form.
Below, we list three players who we believe O’Neil should let depart the club on loan in January.
Hugo Bueno
The fullback has largely spent the season second fiddle to Rayan Ait-Nouri throughout the majority of the campaign.
His injury at the start of the season was unfortunate timing for the youngster as it was just when his Algerian counterpart hit his best form.
When these roles were reversed in early December, Bueno struggled to replicate this output before he was dropped against West Ham.
The 21-year-old is clearly still brimming with potential and was given a new contract as a result earlier in the season.
However, if Ait-Nouri remains as the first-choice left-back, the Spaniherd should seek a loan move before coming back stronger at the start of the next campaign.
Joe Hodge
The midfielder has been injured for the majority of the campaign so far. However, when he has been fit, Hodge has struggled for minutes.
Over the past 12 months, Wolves have littered their midfielder with new additions. Mario Lemina, Joao Gomes, Jean-ricner Bellegarde and Tommy Doyle have all joined while Boubacar Traore’ loan was also made permanent.
As a result, Hodge may once again struggle for game time when he returns to fitness, especially due to the form of players such as Lemina.
With the 21-year-old clearly full of potential, a loan could do the midfielder the world of good. Luke Cundle is finding a lot of success in the Championship this campaign on loan to Plymouth and a similar location could have the same impact on Hodge.
Santiago Bueno
Since signing in the summer Bueno has struggled to get onto the pitch.
When the centre-back signed in the summer, the transfer was widely praised after coming into the club with a large reputation.
However, the defender has largely spent the season on the bench, only getting minutes on the pitch during Craig Dawson’s suspension and in the Carabao Cup.
This is despite, the Wolves backline being far from solid so far this season. O’Neil’s side have only kept two clean sheets in the league and are conceding soft goals most games.
With the manager seemingly no willing to give Bueno a go in the starting XI, a long move for him followed by a new incoming defender in January would be ideal.