Wolves journalist Liam Keen has stressed how important a signing like Renato Sanches could be for the club in the transfer window.
It was suggested this past summer that Wolves were in the process of bringing the Portuguese midfielder to Molineux from French side Lille, with Wolves seemingly willing to take a risk on him despite the fact he was carrying an injury.
That injury ultimately meant the deal didn’t go through, and he has since gone on to play 13 times for the Ligue 1 side, scoring one goal and chipping in with one assist in the process.
However, recent reports have emerged suggesting Bruno Lage could reignite the side’s interest in the 24-year-old midfielder ahead of next month’s window.
And it is that prowess in midfield that Keen thinks the club is lacking, as he expressed his views on the latest edition of the E&S Wolves podcast, stating that there aren’t enough goals coming from the middle of the park and that someone like Sanches could be a great asset for them to fix that issue.
“I think Wolves have been crying out for a couple of seasons now, and I’ve banged on about this – they need a midfielder who can drive forward with the ball into that final third, play one-two passes in pockets of space, someone who’s just going to arrive late in the box as well to add bodies.
“I think it would improve goal output from midfield and for the forwards, because having an extra option occupying the defenders, etc.
“I think that’s the one thing their midfield is lacking and I would add to it, certainly. And we bang on about his name all the time, for obvious reasons, but Renato Sanches is very good at doing that.”
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Keen is right to a certain extent when it comes to a lack of goals from midfield, as Wolves have tended to be overly reliant on forwards and wingers to get the goals, as demonstrated in 2019/20 when none of their midfielders were able to get into double digits and were even outscored by right-back Matt Doherty.
Meanwhile, this season has seen none of them reach as many as two, with centre-back Romain Saiss ahead of them.
Although, whether or not 24-year-old Sanches specifically is the answer – especially given that he’s not exactly known for scoring goals, with just 14 in his career at club level – is unknown. But considering the reported interest in him, they might face some competition if they want to reignite their interest in signing him in January.
In other news: ‘Been too off the boil’ – Bruno Lage tipped to drop 25 y/o Wolves ace in big call