Wolves have endured a challenging start to the new season.placeholder image
Wolves have endured a challenging start to the new season. | Getty Images
Wolverhampton Wanderers may return for a midfield signing in January
Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured difficult starts to the last few Premier League seasons, as a period of Europa League dreams around the late 2010s is over and the Old Gold find themselves fighting to remain in the top flight.
Last season, an outstanding spring under Vitor Pereira, coupled with the relative lack of fight shown by the three relegated sides, meant survival was never really in question for Wolves as we entered the latter stages of the season.
Midfield is an area of the pitch where Wolves looked to strengthen over the summer, but a move for free agent Josh Brownhill failed to materialise as the 29-year-old has reportedly opted instead to agree a move to Saudi Arabia. Wolves could return for another former midfield target in January.
Wolves should return for Middlesborough’s Hayden Hackney
Their reasoning was likely twofold. Not only is Hackney an irreplaceable player for Boro, their very own 23-year-old academy product who has made over 100 appearances for the club and represented Lee Carsley’s victorious England U21 side at the Euros in the summer. In addition, Middlesborough currently sit atop of the Championship table (albeit after four games) and have genuine promotion aspirations this season under Rob Edwards.
The reality is that by mid-January, these aspirations may have faded away. The Championship could prove very strong this year, with pre-season favourites Ipswich Town, Southampton and Sheffield United all starting poorly while newly-promoted Birmingham City and Wrexham have spent wad-loads of cash and will not settle for mediocrity.
Should Middlesborough find themselves outside the play-off places come January, club chiefs may reluctantly accept that it might be the right time to let Hackney go. It will likely take another £30m bid for the Riverside outfit to part ways with their star man, but for the player’s potential that could prove a bargain.
‘I was gutted’ - Hackney speaks on Michael Carrick departure news
Reported by The Sun, Hackney had mixed emotions in June as he was named within Carsley’s England U21 squad while also coming to terms with the news that much-loved former manager Michael Carrick had been sacked by Middlesborough.
Hackney said: “I found out Thursday I was in the squad and told my mum and dad and yeah I was buzzing.
“But also, yeah I was gutted about Michael Carrick to be honest. He's done loads for me. He put his trust in me to play the majority of games and helped me so much with everything really. I can’t thank him enough for that.
“I text him straight away wishing him all the best in the future and he replied wishing me good luck for going away with England. It was nice. It's probably the first manager that I've lost and I just wanted to thank him for everything. But now a new guy will come in, whoever that may be, and as a squad we'll go from there.”
Hackney was given his chance to become a first-team star under Carrick’s stewardship and was reportedly keen to explore a Premier League move over the summer, perhaps with the belief that Carrick’s departure meant it could be time for him to move on too. Should such an idea persist come January, it is more than plausible that Hackney decides to make a big move to the top flight. Wolves must make sure they are right at the top of the list to secure his signature.
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