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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...

Wolves' midfield was one of their areas of strength last season with Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho playing 35 and 38 games respectively in the Premier League.

The pair of them were outstanding in the middle of the park and were complemented well by Leander Dendoncker throughout the second half of the campaign.

They all offered varying qualities that helped to establish their side as the best of the rest, finishing seventh in the league.

However, that could be about to be broken up if a reported target joins.

On the chalkboard

Late last week, Calciomercato claimed that Wolves had an interest in promising French midfielder Lucas Tousart.

The 22-year-old missed a penalty in France's opening game of the U21 European Championships but he has clear talent after playing as often as 30 times in Ligue 1 for Lyon last term.

But if he joined, how could he split up the current trio that operates so well in Nuno Santo's side?

Well, Tousart is a defensive midfielder by trade although similarly to Neves, he can play further forward in the middle of the park.

Wolves' Portuguese star made 2.1 tackles per game in the league last term. In comparison, the £18m-rated Frenchman made 2.5 in domestic action whilst making a further three per match in Europe.

That means that the latter could well be preferred in a deeper playmaking role, likely at the expense of Dendoncker, leaving Neves to be given a different responsibility.

Considering the former's passing qualities and nous in front of goal, he can quite easily be utilised a little further forward, focusing on the tremendous attributes he can offer around the final third.

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Neves has a habit of scoring goals from outside the box. As of 11 August 2018, ten of his 11 senior goals had been from distance, while two of his four goals in the Premier League last season were from beyond 18 yards.

Both players are the same age but Tousart only has three goals in his entire career. The Wolves man beat that tally last season alone.

Neves tended to float around deep pockets in the Wolves midfield last season, but the potential arrival of the Lyon man could possibly alter the way he plays to Nuno's advantage.

It would give Neves more freedom but they wouldn't be sacrificing his ball retention if they signed Tousart to cover the role he's previously been playing.