Wolves now have less than five days remaining to get their transfer business done – and Vitor Pereira has insisted he wants to keep hold of a player who has come in for a lot of stick recently.
It is shaping up to be a very busy end to the window, with Wolves expected to sign around three to four new players.
Defender Ladislav Krejci is coming to Wolves from Girona, with official confirmation not far off now.
But there could yet be outgoings.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is the subject of a pursuit by Newcastle at the moment, with the Magpies seeing two bids rejected.
It’s thought a third bid from Newcastle for Strand Larsen is imminent.
It remains to be seen if he will stay, but Vitor Pereira obviously wants to keep Strand Larsen, although the manager did ominously admit the other night that every player has his price.
But there’s also another player at Wolves he really doesn’t want to lose right now.
Vitor Pereira praises Hwang Hee-chan and wants him to stay at Wolves
Hwang Hee-chan on the bench for Wolves.
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Tuesday’s game with West Ham United was tough for Hwang Hee-chan.
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The South Korea international was made captain for the night, but struggled to impress at Molineux leading the line.
Hwang couldn’t really link with his teammates, and was wasteful at times.
And then of course, he also hit the post with his penalty, which was thankfully followed in by Rodrigo Gomes.
We know Hwang is a confidence player, so that spot-kick really needed to find the net.
But Pereira is still backing Hwang and wants him to stay at the club, amid some exit speculation.
Sharing that the player has actually been dealing with a family bereavement, Pereira said of him (via BBC Sport): “Do you know what happened with Hee-chan this week? His grandfather passed away.
“When I ask him, I said you decide if you want to go to Korea – his grandfather was very close to him.
“He showed me he wants to help the team, he wants to stay here, he wants to try. He gave everything to help us. We need to respect his character a lot and I respect him.
“He is a player I want to keep here.”
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira folding his arms on the touchline.
Photo by Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hwang could yet leave Wolves
His manager wants him to stay, but there may yet be scope for Hwang – who cost Wolves £14 million (BBC Sport) – to leave, with PSV Eindhoven showing interest.
It is perhaps not out of the question that Hwang may fancy a late change and to start afresh somewhere else.
He has not been in form for quite a while now, so he may feel this could be the right moment to move. But of course, it would depend on Wolves’ asking price – whatever that may be – being met, and the club securing a replacement.
Hwang Hee-chan for Wolves
Appearances – 122
Goals – 24
Assists – 8
Hwang showed courage to even play on Tuesday given what he’s been dealing with.
He would have been forgiven for having nothing to do with the game, but he still wanted to give his all for the team, and there’s a lot to be said for that.
Sadly, it wasn’t a good performance from him and it was a big shame to see him miss the penalty. It’s such fine margins – if that goes in, he potentially plays so much better in the game and Wolves have a much more confident player on their hands.