Wolverhampton Wanderers could be in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer.placeholder image
Wolverhampton Wanderers could be in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer. | Getty Images
Wolves should look to target a player with nearly 300 Premier League appearances
Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to be right at the centre of yet another relegation battle after a lacklustre start to the new season which has seen them fall to defeat in three of their four competitive matches this season.
The Old Gold were ripped apart by Manchester City in a 4-0 defeat at Molineux on matchday one and amplified fears of a poor season after registering just one shot on target during a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Fans were given some respite by a 3-2 victory against West Ham in the League Cup when Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has been heavily linked with Newcastle rose off the bench to score a match-winning brace, but they felt his absence during a 3-2 defeat to Everton at the Hill Dickinson stadium despite attempting to stage a late comeback.
What do Wolves need to add in January?
Clearly the balance of the squad at this stage in the season is not quite right at Wolves, and it’s increasingly evident that the habits that haunted the club during the first half of last season are beginning to resurface defensively.
There’s also a lack of quality depth in the middle of the park and a real need for a technically gifted midfielder within the team’s budget that can try and get things back on track.
As it stands, Wolves are blessed with two workmen like Brazilian internationals Andre and Joao Gomes but they seem to be lacking a bit of quality that can play in front of them and create a bit of magic on their own. Matheus Cunha was a specialist in that department after scoring 15 goals last season, but it’s hard to see the club splashing out the level of money needed to get that kind of player again after spending around £35m on him back in January 2023 before making a £30m profit.
Ross Barkley could be a good cut-price option for Wolves - opinion
While he’s no longer the glamorous name that he was nearly a decade ago when he starred for Everton as a youngster, Ross Barkley is a Premier League-proven, creative minded midfielder that could prove to be a solution to Wolves’ current problems. Barkley has played 284 matches at Premier League level, scoring 37 times, contributing 34 assists and has also gained experience in the top-flight of France with Nice while also representing England on 33 occasions, finding the net six times for his country.
The Liverpool-born midfielder was written off by many before making his move to Luton Town in 2023 but ultimately proved to be a revelation at Kenilworth Road despite the club’s relegation with five goals and four assists. Barkley was a standout player for the Hatters. InApril 2024,Sky revealed he had completed the most take-ons of any player in the league at that time while operating in a slightly deeper midfield role.
He was also the fifth most prolific at winning the ball back in the middle of the park and was the heartbeat behind Luton’s valiant push to try and stay in the division. Some experts at the time tipped him for an England call-up and while he never got it the time, it’s clear it played a role in inspiring Aston Villa, who had qualified for the Champions League at the time, to sign him.
The 31-year-old played 30 times in total at Villa during his debut season, scoring four and contributing two assists. He played six times in the Champions League and scored a crucial strike in a 3-2 win against RB Leipzig to help the team progress to the knockout stages. Barkley struggled with a calf injury towards the end of last season and is yet to appear for Villa this term. Whether he’s a major part of Villa’s plans remains to be seen after the arrival of Harvey Elliott from Liverpool, and it’s possible the player could be available in January after failing to make Unai Emery’s Europa League squad.
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