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Nuno Espirito Santo surley facing dilemma over returning trio

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OPINION

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo could face a dilemma over the futures of Roderick Miranda, Kortney Hause and Leo Bonatini this summer.

The trio have all spent time away from Wolves this season out on loan, with Miranda joining Greek side Olympiakos, while Bonatini and Hause had spells in the Championship with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa respectively.

The trio are now all set to return to Wolves, with the club thought to be considering selling both Bonatini and Miranda, while a decision over the future of Hause will not be made until after Aston Villa’s play-off semi-final against Derby County, according to The Express and Star.

Miranda had a largely unsuccessful spell in Greece, making just 11 appearances as Olympiakos finished runners-up in the race for the Greek league title this season, and the defender is still under contract at Wolves having signed a four-year deal after arriving from Rio Ave in 2017.

Bonatini meanwhile found his involvement even more limited whilst out on loan, being given just five games by Nottingham Forest in the second half of the season in which the striker failed to score a single goal, but the Brazilian still has another three-years left to run on his current deal.

Hause has made 13 appearances in all competitions at Aston Villa this season, with Dean Smith’s reaching the Championship play-off final after finishing fifth in the table.

None of the three players are likely to feature in Nuno’s starting line-up in the Premier League next season, but Wolves’ seventh place finish has meant that the club have qualified for the Europa League next season.

That means that Wolves will be needing a bigger squad to handle competing in both domestic and European competitions next season, which might persuade Nuno to allow the three players back into his squad for next term.

However, having fallen very far down the pecking order at Wolves under Nuno, Miranda and Bonatini, who cost the club a combined £7.5 million, might be wanting to secure permanent moves away from the club to re-establish their careers elsewhere.

Hause meanwhile, could be given the opportunity to come back into the first team squad at the club, with academy graduate capable of providing defensive cover which might be important given Wolves’ increased amount games next season.

Whatever happens with the futures of the returning trio, Nuno must ensure that he has a large enough squad at his disposal next season, if Wolves are to be able to compete in both Europe and the Premier League, after performing excellently to qualify for the Europa League this term.

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