It has been another somewhat frustrating season for Tommy Doyle at Wolves.
Doyle turned his loan move to Wolves permanent in the summer, after impressing at Molineux in 2023/24 despite not being a regular starter.
Wolves signed Doyle for £4.3 million (The Athletic), and it was a deal that pretty much everyone got behind.
Doyle will have been hoping to kick on after last season and perhaps enjoy more minutes in midfield.
But unfortunately for him that hasn’t been the case, with Joao Gomes and Andre the clear first picks for the engine room.
Earlier this week, there were suggestions Doyle’s situation was one to watch with the end of the transfer window approaching. It was claimed earlier this month that Sheffield United were keen to re-sign Doyle.
Today, a new claim has been made regarding the club’s stance on the player.
Wolves set to keep Tommy Doyle beyond the January transfer window
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Wolves are set to keep hold of Doyle this month.
The club are said to want Doyle to play a part in their survival bid, even though he’s not a regular.
Doyle is likely to start for Wolves in their next game against Aston Villa, after Joao Gomes got sent off against Arsenal on Saturday.
Gomes made what Danny Murphy called a ‘ridiculous’ challenge on Jurrien Timber to earn himself a second yellow card.
Potentially, Doyle’s minutes could increase in the second half of the season with Mario Lemina potentially on his way this month.
Lemina isn’t playing for Wolves while the transfer window is open, as he sorts out his future. He recently refused to play against Newcastle United.
Wolves right to keep Doyle
It would be absolutely foolish to offload Doyle this month given how much football Gomes and Andre have played this season.
Even if Lemina happens to stay, it’s unclear how willing Pereira would be to reintegrate him and what kind of involvement he would have.
| Tommy Doyle for Wolves this season |
| Appearances – 20 |
| Minutes played – 616 |
| Goals – 1 |
| Assists – 1 |
| Yellow/red cards – 2/0 |
Doyle is probably very frustrated at the moment over his game time, and that is understandable.
But Wolves can’t afford to lose him right now and hopefully, he isn’t going to agitate for a mid-season move.
That said Doyle is a leader, and – despite not playing as much as he’d like – it doesn’t feel like he’d be someone to jump ship in the middle of a relegation battle.