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This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
The 2019 summer transfer window had been a slow one for Wolves. Besides seeing Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro both leave for the Championship, there'd been no incomings before last weekend.
However, they have finally brought in their first two bodies of the summer.
Walking through the doors was Spain U21 international Jesus Vallejo who arrived on a loan deal for the duration of the 2019/20 season, before Patrick Cutrone was also signed.
The former previously spent a period on loan in the Bundesliga, so this will represent another stern test for the centre-back.
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On the chalkboard
A loan move for Vallejo is a shrewd deal from the Midlands outfit who have welcomed a pedigreed defender to Molineux.
The Spaniard was out of favour last season at Real, reduced to less than a handful of starts across the entire season.
Yet, he did star during the U21 European Championships in Italy. He captained the Spain side as he played in four matches and helped them to win the entire tournament.
It's his leadership qualities, though, that make this signing particularly eye-catching, especially after comments made in the past.
Speaking to Marca in 2017, his teammate in the U21 national team Jorge Mere said the following: "Beyond his qualities as a footballer, he has a calm head, he knows how to act under any type of pressure and he has maximum confidence in himself."
Meanwhile, his former youth coach Javier Garces spoke about him in high regard too. "He was captain of the Real Zaragoza first team at the age of 17, was a European champion at Under-19 level, signed for Real Madrid and triumphed in Germany."
Check out the reaction to Wolves' first European game since the '80s in the video below...
This is a player who despite being just 22 years of age has a maturity beyond his years.
Of course, the current skipper at Wolves is Conor Coady, but judging by these previous comments about Vallejo, it gives an indication that the Madrid man can rival him next term.
The Wolves stalwart failed to miss a single game as he offered a calming influence in the backline and this is something that Vallejo can bring alongside him if they play together.
It's unlikely that Coady will lose his place in the team but as far as leadership qualities go, there is a reason to suggest they can offer similar attributes to the Wolves backline, thus improving Nuno Santo's favoured back three.
At times last term, Wolves struggled defensively, something that was especially the case when Romain Saiss featured.
Vallejo, however, can help that become a distant memory.
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