Wolves eyeing 24-year-old who once caught Lionel Messi’s eye, he won’t cost a penny

Wolves have been listed as one of the clubs interested in a highly-rated defender ahead of the summer transfer window, a player who once impressed Lionel Messi.

Gary O’Neil will be hoping to receive financial assistance from Fosun this summer, as he looks to replenish his Wolves squad in the transfer window.

The Old Gold have seen their recent form take a hit as a result of a lack of depth in the squad, seeing the club’s dreams of European football drift away.

Still, recent form must not take any attention away from the remarkable work O’Neil and his squad have done this season, with hope now that progress can be seen beyond the manager’s first term in charge.

This summer will be pivotal to how the squad progresses with a host of new faces required to strengthen O’Neil’s side.

Now, one target has been identified as the latest reports name Wolves as one of the clubs interested in an impressive Spanish defender.

Wolves are interested in Real Betis left-back Juan Miranda

As reported by Spanish news outlet Estadio Deportivo, Wolves are one of many clubs eyeing Real Betis defender, Juan Miranda.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at Betis this summer, causing a host of European clubs to swarm around his future movements.

While the report details that Portuguese side Porto are leading the race to sign him, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid are among his admirers in Spain, with a list of Premier League sides also named.

Wolves are joined by Crystal Palace, Brentford and West Ham as those ‘on the roster’ of the left-back, telling of his talent and how attractive the prospect of acquiring him for zero cost is.

Juan Miranda could be the left-back Gary O’Neil needs

A player who rose through the ranks of Barcelona’s infamous La Masia academy, Miranda has received praise from some of the world’s best, with Lionel Messi once describing the defender as ‘different’ when he was a youngster breaking through at Barca.

It’s praise indeed from arguably one of the best to ever play the sport, but the question Messi is unable to answer is, would Juan Miranda be a good fit for Wolves?

Deployable as both a left-back and a centre-back, the Spaniard has the trademark attacking ability that O’Neil looks for from his full-backs with his playing style loosely comparable to Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Scouting site Total Football Analysis describe the defender as being a player with a ‘unique playing style’ and one who can help his side ‘create chances’ in the final third.

Wolves’ reported admiration for the 24-year-old is interesting considering the speculation over Ait-Nouri’s future at Molineux, with journalist Graeme Bailey telling Molineux News of the club’s plans to seek a new left-back.

Only time will tell if there is a correlation between interest in Ait-Nouri and Wolves’ interest in Miranda, in what will be an interesting narrative to follow this summer.