Vitor Pereira has accepted that midfield depth is required for Wolves to enjoy a successful 2025/26 season.
With Tommy Doyle joining Birmingham City on loan and Boubacar Traore’s future cast into doubt, Wolves have been left with just Andre, Joao Gomes and Marshall Munetsi as realistic options in the middle of the park.
Gomes and Andre were phenomenal for Wolves in 2024/25 and formed an unbreakable midfield partnership under Vitor Pereira.
But the Brazilian duo require quality competition to push them to even greater heights, which is why Wolves have been linked with Neil El Aynaoui from RC Lens.
El Aynaoui is a source of goals from midfield with nine goals and six assists in 56 appearances, and remarkably, isn’t the only Lens star the Old Gold are chasing.
Andy Diouf during ACF Fiorentina v FC Basel
Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Wolves and Crystal Palace are monitoring RC Lens midfielder Andy Diouf
According to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Burnley are all ‘monitoring’ Lens midfielder Andy Diouf.
#wwfc, #cpfc and #burnley all monitoring Lens midfielder Andy Diouf. France u21 international would likely cost more than £15m.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) July 9, 2025
The France under-21 international is reportedly available for at least £15 million on the back of a campaign where he made 37 appearances in all competitions with two goals and four assists.
Andy Diouf scores against Fiorentina.
19-year-old Rennes loanee.
So much quality in this academy. Incredible. https://t.co/dEvlk1MK8j
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) May 11, 2023
The ‘incredible’ Diouf was also part of his side’s journey in the Europa Conference League, although he only featured twice in the competition.
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Interest from Premier League clubs in the 22-year-old hasn’t just emerged, as it’s been previously claimed by L’Equipe that he would prefer a move to Palace over newly-promoted Burnley.
Though at this stage, it remains unclear who will win the race for his signature, especially since his contract doesn’t expire until June 2028.
What Wolves fans need to know about Diouf
Standing at 6ft 2ins, Diouf is known for his strong physical presence, technical attributes, and progressive passing, making him a versatile player in the midfield. He can play as a central, defensive, or attacking midfielder.
The youngster is also known for his ability to cover lots of ground and come out on top in physical duels, making him the ideal foil for Andre and Gomes at Molineux.
Diouf has been capped nine times by the French under-21 side, but more importantly, he’s excelled at club level with 131 senior appearances to his name, 65 of which have come in Ligue 1.
According to FBref, the left-footed talent has ranked inside the top 2% of midfielders across Europe in the past year for successful take-ons and the top 3% for progressive carries, evincing his qualities as a ball-carrier.
So, at a cost of around £15 million, perhaps Diouf can offer Pereira the desired physical attributes in midfield that look tailor made for the Premier League.