What do Wolverhampton Wanderers need in the transfer market?

Having missed out on UEFA Champions League football and gone out of the UEFA Europa League in bitter circumstances, Wolverhampton Wanderers are facing a summer of introspection. The club has already seen some moves come into focus, with Matt Doherty making a move to Tottenham Hotspur. It leaves Nuno Espirito Santo and Wolves with some transfer market work to do – so where should we expect to see new faces arriving?

The first place to expect a new signing to arrive is for the right wing-back position. Doherty has left, leaving the club with a gaping hole on the right side. One player who is being heavily linked is Valencia full-back Thierry Correia. He has been linked heavily, and his Portuguese nationality means that he fits in with the general signing policy at Molineux in the last few years.

Another interesting player being linked, though, is Arsenal wing-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Having improved in the last few months, though, it might be hard to prise away an academy graduate from Arsenal. He is seen as the preferred option for Nuno, though, and unlike Correa would be expected to come right into the first-team from week one.

Outside of the wing back position, though, Wolves are thought to be looking at central midfield. The most common name being linked is Morgan Sanson, the Marseille midfielder who is regularly linked with a move to come to Wolves. However, the 26-year-old is also interesting other clubs who can offer UEFA Champions League football – including his current employers.

One name who was also linked was Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Frenchman appears to want a move to Everton, and looks unlikely to accept a move elsewhere. For now, though, Wolves look certain to strengthen on the right-hand side of defence and midfield, both centrally and in the wide areas.

What do Aston Villa need in the transfer market?

When Aston Villa returned to the top flight after an extended hiatus, the club spent heavily to fill out a depleted squad. Despite heavy spending in the summer and in January 2020, Villa stayed up with the skin of their teeth. Several signings, including the likes of Trezeuet, Wesley, and Marvelous Nakamba have struggled to make a proper impact.

This has left the Villans with a lot of work to do in the summer, both in getting rid of deadwood and clearing their squad to make way for quality. With their talisman Jack Grealish expected to leave, too, this removes one of their only major talents.

Villa are expected to look for a new forward, with Wesley still unfit and Mbwana Samatta struggling to make a proper impact. Young forward Keinan Davis is too raw at the moment, leaving them short of goals. With Grealish leaving, too, expect Villa to have to make reinforcements in the wide areas as well.

Goalkeeper, though, could be a priority with Tom Heaton still out for the long-term and Orjan Nyland struggling to make a proper impact. While some young talent at Villa is worth building around, they have too many veterans failing to contribute and a distinct lack of creativity in key positions.

Even in central midfield, only John McGinn can truly say that he looks Premier League standard. 

Douglas Luiz was excellent in the end of the season, too, so the duo could be worth building around if Villa want to rebuild their side.

However, much like last summer, it feels like this one could be a major rebuilding job for Villa. With limited funds, not as many offers for Grealish as hoped, and a season about to kick off, getting the job done is going to be tough. They need a lot both in quantity and quality as well as shifting a lot of deadwood out the door – is it too much for one summers work again?

Joe Linton

It’s not often that you hear of Newcastle United splashing the cash. So, when the club managed to spend over €40m on Joelinton from TSG Hoffenhiem, fans were naturally excited. The 22-year-old has been around the German game for a couple of years now, as well as having spent time out on loan in Austria. An explosive and exciting talent, does he have the means to make the Premier League a little less challenging for the Toon?

What makes him so special?

Joelinton is a lot like another former Hoffenheim forward in Roberto Firmino in that he does not necessarily stick up top. He works hard in harrying the opposition defence, and he loves to link-up with his teammates. He gets involved in the defensive side of the game before getting his teammates involved in the play – that might explain a rather lacklustre goals return.

A good passer and a fine dribbler, too, Joelinton can take players on and make a positive impact when he’s on the ball. The fact he has no issues working back is a big boon, too, as the Premier League demands high intensity forwards.

Though Newcastle fans might expect more goals from a striker who cost so much, he offers so much in various other parts of the pitch that, if they can supply him with good teammates, he could be of great value to Newcastle.

Any concerns or doubts?

However, part of the problem with Joelinton is that he’s often in so many places, he’s not in the right one when it matters. Goals are an issue, as is fouling the opposition. He has a habit of reliving pressure by being too aggressive on defenders, which can be a problem.

Also, given that he spends so much time outside of the box, he often shoots from distance instead of getting in close to finish chances off. In a team that does not create as much as many of their competition, that barren nature that can strike Joelinton could be problematic.

If they can build the team around him without expecting him to a static striker, though, Newcastle should profit from the purchase of the Brazilian.

Mauro Icardi

Known for his tempestuous attitude and wild off the pitch mind-set as much as his incredible coolness in front of goal, Mauro Icardi looks set to go down in the history of Internazionale of Italy. Signing from the club after a breakout season with Sampdoria, where he scored a brace against then-champions Juventus to begin a mad rush for his signature, he made his move to the Nerrazzurri in 2013.

Since 2011, the Argentine international has become one of the most lethal forwards in the game. Despite the madness that surrounds his personal life, Icardi has quickly become one of the most notable forwards in the game. His coolness in front of goal is in stark contrast to the racy lifestyle he leads off the pitch.

At Inter, he’s become a regular goal scorer and has stayed loyal to the club during a fallow period for a club of such size. With an incredible 96 goals from 170 games, he’s quickly established himself among the pantheon of the top strikers to have worn the Inter shirt.

While he’s had fall-outs along the way with the clubs Ultras, the Argentina international has always worked hard to repay the faith shown in him. The scorer of a hat-trick in the Derby del Madonnina, too, he’s a player who shows a love for the big games and is a master of getting the right result for his side.

Despite playing in Inter sides that barely can match his ability, Icardi has stuck around with the promise of taking Inter back to the top. Despite regular criticism of his personality and his lifestyle, Icardi has shown time and time again that his attitude on the pitch is something that can never be doubted, cementing his place as one of 2018's most lethal forwards.

Tanguy Ndombele given ‘second chance’ at Tottenham Hotspur

When Tanguy Ndombele signed for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2019, it was seen as a major coup. However, having played over 20 games for the club in the last season before the COVID-19 outbreak brought it to an end, it was clear that he and new manager Jose Mourinho were not going to see eye-to-eye.

However, it appears that with plenty of time to think that Mourinho has given the Frenchman another chance. At only 23 and as the club records signing, that would make sense. Injury issues and a constant in/out nature meant that for a long time Ndomebele was simply out of the team and unable to play with any flow or consistency. It appears that Mourinho recognised that, and will be likely to give him more chances once he has enjoyed a full pre-season.

Still, injury problems have become commonplace with the midfielder and that is likely to cause many issues. Fitness issues are likely to continue with the long layoff all players have endured, making it hard for the £65m man to make good on his potential at the club.

With a below-part first season now out of the way, it looks like Ndombele won’t make a quick exit from the North London giants. Instead, a second season for both player and club appears to be the most likely option. It’s interesting to see what comes next, and it will be very intriguing to see how the club and player handle a second season.

Given the number of top players who have struggled in their first year in England, though, there is nothing to say that Ndombele cannot re-find the levels he was showing with such consistency when he played with Lyon in France. Spurs fans will be hoping this gives him the opportunity to rediscover his verve and his desire.

Sheffield United vs Norwich

With the Blades very much looking to find a place in the UEFA Champions League – something unthinkable at the beginning of the season – fellow promotional team Norwich City are at the other end of the table. The Canaries are in a poor run, despite putting out Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup. Can the Blades find the form they need to make sure that they can keep their dreams of not only European football, but Champions League football, alive?

Sheffield United News

The Blades are in one of the best places they have been all season in terms of injuries. Not a single player has so far been reported as missing for them. While the likes of John Fleck and Enda Stevens were a bit touch and go, both players are expected to make it for this game.

Sander Berge could start in midfield, while Chris Wilder is likely to give David McGoldrick another game up top. Despite only scoring his first goal of the season in midweek, he’s generally performed well.

Norwich City News

The Canaries are gong to be without their star creative player in Emiliano Buendia. The little Argentine playmaker will miss out, while they might also be without a few other key players. Timm Klose, Sam Byram, and Onel Hernandez are definitely out. Christoph Zimmermann is not expected to recover in time for this one.

They will need to try and shuffle an already small squad around to try and make this a contest.

Verdict

While the Blades aren’t prolific, they don’t concede too many either. Norwich, meanwhile, score a fair few and concede even more. We can see the Canaries struggling here; while both teams went to extra time in the FA Cup, there’s something to play for at Bramall Lane. For Norwich, survival feels an unrealistic prospect now – simply building confidence for a potential FA Cup run should be their primary concern now

Player Profile - Loris Karius

For many, German goalkeeper Loris Karius was the wrong choice for a club the size of Liverpool. The 24-year-old German, though, has shown in 2018 that he has more than enough to handle playing for a top club. After all, there’s a reason why he was voted among the finest keepers in Germany prior to his arrival at Anfield!

He started off at VfB Stuttgart after a series of moves around smaller youth clubs like SSV Ulm 1846. He then made a surprise move to England, when he joined recently cash-rich Manchester City. He was signed for City in 2009, but never made a single appearance for the Citizens despite costing an “exorbitant amount of money”, according to Thomas Albeck, the Stuttgart youth co-ordinator.

A move to Mainz 05 came next, where he stayed for four years. In his time at the club, he quickly established himself as a keeper of some repute, playing regularly for the Zero-Fivers. He quickly became a key player following coming on for Christian Wetklo. Wetklo was injured and, at 19, he became the youngest Bundesliga keeper of all-time.

From 2013-2016, he was a key player for the club and was voted the second best keeper in the Bundesliga in 2015-16, keeping nine sheets. He came second only to the great Manuel Neur.

Then, he made his move to Liverpool. While he’s only begun to establish himself at Anfield after 18-months, the German looks to be coming into his own and really establishing a legacy for himself. Now the number one keeper at Anfield, he appears to have the back of players, coaches and fans as he continues an impressive renaissance.

While he might not be among the elite keepers in the league just yet, a rich history and potential for development says that, at just 24, that could change quickly.