[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast's In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets...

As Wolves gear up for what could be a historic season, overseeing how they compete and go about their business will be fascinating.

Last term Nuno Santo's side were nothing short of sensational, taking 16 points from the Premier League's top six sides as they finished seventh in the Premier League on the back of promotion.

But 2019/20 could be even better for them.

The Midlands outfit will head into the new campaign competing in Europe for the first time since 1980 whilst there is further room for improvement in the league, especially after some of their wretched displays against teams near the bottom of the table.

Their 3-1 defeat against Southampton back in April was indicative of the team they sometimes were away from home - lacklustre and sloppy on the ball.

Yet no matter how they played, their midfield was always usually extraordinarily consistent.

One of the chief men behind that was Ruben Neves. The Portuguese has been exceptional since arriving from Porto in 2017 and it was no surprise to see him take to the Premier League like a duck to water.

But next season he could well be relinquished of his more defensive duties by a new arrival, something we've documented previously.

Lucas Tousart of Lyon has attracted their interest recently and he boasts a specific stat that eclipses one of Wolves' star men.

The 22-year-old is a similar player but in terms of the tackles he makes per game, he is ahead of the man he could provide competition for if he joins Nuno's team.

In 2018/19, Tousart averaged three tackles per game in the Champions League whilst also making 2.5 on average in Ligue 1. In comparison, Neves made just 2.1.

But it's the sheer consistency of Wolves' target in terms of his tackles that is most impressive.

He started 20 games in the league and in only one of them did he fail to make a single successful challenge.

Is it unrealistic to expect another top half finish from Wolves next season? HRH discusses in the video below...

The Frenchman managed six tackles in two separate matches, providing an invaluable wall of protection against both Rennes and Reims.

For an indication of how he plays against the best sides around, he made three tackles in 45 minutes against PSG, whilst making a further five in a defeat against Nice.

Like Neves, Tousart is a cultured midfielder, but he also knows how to get stuck in when necessary.

Across 30 fixtures, he made 74 tackles and was dribbled past on 34 occasions.

Wolves' midfield maestro, however, was dribbled past 56 times in five more matches.