Wolves Scouts Watched Target, January Offer Expected
Wolves scouted Strasbourg defender Ismael Doukoure at a Ligue 1 match and a bid is expected to be launched for the player in January, it has been claimed in France.
The Premier League side reshaped their squad slowly after experiencing a slow start to their summer transfer window in terms of signing players.
They have had a difficult start to their Premier League campaign as they have managed to secure only three points and conceded eight goals in the opening four matches.
Even though the summer transfer window closed only earlier this month, the Molineux outfit are already looking at further options.
According to French outlet Top Mercato, Strasbourg defender Doukoure was scouted by Wolves at the beginning of this month.
Wolves watched him in action against Nice.
It has also been suggested that they will send a formal offer of around €10m in January for the 20-year-old.
Doukoure has given his green signal to play in the Premier League, it has also been claimed.
Now it remains to be seen if the Premier League side will continue their interest in Doukoure and put in a bid.
Gary O’Neil has three big formation choices to make as Wolves aim to stun Liverpool
Wolverhampton Wanderers news and opinion from BirminghamLive ahead of the home Premier League game against Liverpool
Wolves return to action on Saturday when Liverpool are the visitors to Molineux. The game is probably the toughest of the season so far for O’Neil’s side who have a win and three defeats to show from their league campaign. So, how will the manager approach the fixture?
O’Neil was flexible about formations in his previous job at Bournemouth. He also has different options after the signings of Enso Gonzalez, Tommy Doyle, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Santiago Bueno before the transfer deadline. We look at three ways the Wolves boss could set his side up this weekend.
3-5-2: O’Neil has played with a back four in all four league games but did play a back three in the 5-0 Carabao Cup win at home to Blackpool a fortnight ago. Matt Doherty and Rayan Ait-Nouri look perfect for wing-backs and the signing of right-sided centre back Santiago Bueno gives O’Neil another option for a back three, providing the 24 year old comes back from international duty with Uruguay free of injury.
The system allows the manager to get one of his new midfielders, Bellegarde or Doyle into the side in a central midfield three and would enable him to get two of Fabio Silva, Matheus Cunha or Sasa Kalajdzic up front. The disadvantage is there is no room for Pedro Neto who has been Wolves’ main creative force this season, providing the assists for three of their four goals. Possible line up: Sa; Bueno, Dawson, Kilman; Doherty, Gomes, Lemina, Bellegarde, Ait-Nouri; Silva, Cunha.
4-2-3-1:Â A more familiar set up and would involve sticking with a back four with Nelson Semedo perhaps getting the nod over Doherty if the job description is to be a more defensive right back rather than wing back.
Dawson, Kilman and Ait-Nouri complete the back four while Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes take their usual central midfield roles. Hwang Hee-Chan, Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto then comprise an attacking three behind the central striker, probably Silva. Possible line up: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Gomes, Lemina; Neto, Cunha, Hwang; Silva.
3-4-3: A slight tweak on the 3-5-2 that maybe gets around Wolves’ lack of striking options. Same back three and wing backs as before but with Lemina and Gomes the only two central midfielders. That leaves room for a front three with Neto on the right and Hwang on the left of a central striker, probably Matheus Cunha.
The biggest unknown in all three suggested formations is new signing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde who comes with a reputation of being able to play anywhere in the midfield or out wide. He’s the most intriguing and potentially exciting of the new arrivals, the £12.8m deal having been done in the final hours before the deadline once Wolves knew Matheus Nunes was on his way to Manchester City for £53m.
Wolves have been tightening their belts this summer and wouldn’t have spent that sort of money on a player who was only going to provide useful cover in different positions. It’s going to see just which position he makes his own in Gary O’Neil’s side and how long it takes to break into the team. Possible line up: Sa; Bueno, Dawson, Kilman; Doherty, Gomes, Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Cunha, Hwang.
