Wolverhampton Wanderers know that a couple of their prized assets could very well be sold this summer.
Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m release clause certainly looks like it could be triggered by Manchester United. Elsewhere, Rayan Ait-Nouri has attracted interest from some of Europe's heavyweights, including Liverpool.
Wolves-Matheus-Cunha
Much will depend on how much money Vitor Pereira will have to spend when the window opens, but there are several players who have already been eyed up.
Wolves plotting move for Premier League youngster
With Wolves having secured their Premier League status weeks ago, one eye has been turned towards the transfer market.
Midfielder Morten Frendrup was linked with a move recently, while defender Dennis Cirkin has also emerged on the club’s radar.
Wolves' previous 5 permanent signings from PL clubs
Player
Sam Johnstone
Tommy Doyle
Craig Dawson
Ki-Jana Hoever
Matija Sarkic
Via Transfermarkt
The pair would make solid signings, but it is the Old Gold’s interest in a current Premier League midfielder which could eclipse both deals.
Indeed, according to Caught Offside, the club are plotting a move for Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott, although he could cost around £50m.
Competition comes from Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Bournemouth, indicating how tough a job Pereira has in convincing the Englishman to move to the Wolves.
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How Harvey Elliott could replace Pedro Neto at Wolves
Since selling Pedro Neto last summer, the Molineux side have failed to adequately replace his influence on the right flank.
Neto enjoyed a superb five-year spell with Wolves. Across 135 matches, he scored 14 goals and recorded 27 assists. These figures would have been much more impressive if he hadn’t missed 112 games through a succession of injuries.
This term, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Forbs and Marshall Munetsi have tried to fill the gap left by Neto, either playing out wide on the right or as a number ten.
But, could Elliott – a left-footed player who thrives on the right – be the ideal candidate to fill the void left by the Portuguese winger?
The Liverpool ace, who can operate either out wide or as an attacking midfielder, has the skillset to finally allow the club to replace one of their former talismans.
Lauded as a “special talent” by former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor, Elliott has demonstrated his attacking qualities over the previous 12 months.
Liverpool's Harvey Elliott celebrates after winning the Premier League
When compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, assists, shot-creating actions and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.
Additionally, he even ranks in the top 4% for progressive carries, passes and total shots, proving that he has the required abilities to shine for Wolves on the right flank where Neto was such a carry-heavy player himself.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
As a left-footed player, Elliott would likely cut in on his stronger foot when he has the ball in the final third.
If given consistent gametime, there is no reason why the Englishman cannot improve his goal-involvement tally at Molineux.
Liverpool's Harvey Elliott celebrates
This season may not have been great, but under a manager who will give him plenty of opportunities in the starting XI, the youngster can sparkle at Wolves.
Wolves-Matheus-Cunha Related
Wolves flop is now a Ballon d'Or contender and a bigger name than Cunha
Wolverhampton Wanderers must surely rue losing this talent who is now arguably better than Matheus Cunha.