Wolves are plotting a bid for RC Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure as Bruno Lage aims to rejuvenate his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, the 22-year-old is set to leave Lens for a move to the Premier League this summer, with the midfielder in high demand.

Wolves are interested, although they face a battle alongside Arsenal, Everton, Brighton and Crystal Palace, who are all keen to secure his signature.

With his market value currently sitting at £9m, the report states a bid of £18m could be the fee to secure his services.

Lage could bolster his midfield

Wolves have had a solid first season under the leadership of Lage as they secured a third top-half finish in four seasons since their promotion from the Championship in 2018. The aim for next term will surely to be in amongst the European places as the manager looks to emulate Nuno Espirito Santo, who guided the club into Europe in 2019.

This will be a challenging task, and with the rumours circling over the future of Ruben Neves, the squad will need to be strengthened over the summer.

Doucoure would be an excellent addition at Molineux. With an average WhoScored rating of 6.94, which ranks him fifth in the Lens squad, and an 87.5% pass success rate, it's clear to see why the 22-year-old is such a wanted man.

The midfielder places in the top 7% compared to positional peers in the big five European leagues for progressive passes (6.26 per 90) and progressive carries (6.87). Although he is a defensive midfielder, his willingness to get forward and support the attack as much as possible will surely please Lage.

Indeed, Doucoure plundered four assists in Ligue 1 this season, the same tally as Wolves' chief creator Raul Jimenez in the Premier League.

Following a stellar performance against Nice in April, in which he was key in all three of Lens' goals, his display came in for plenty of praise. French football journalist Andres Ramos stated that the 22-year-lld was “destroying everyone” that day, and this battling attitude is something from which Wolves could benefit next season.

The club could land a bargain for £18m by signing the all-action Doucoure, a no-nonsense defensive midfielder who can still contribute plenty in the final third. That sounds like the kind of player that Lage badly needs at Molineux, where goals were in short supply this season.

AND in other news, in talks: Lage can unearth Wolves’ new Neves & Moutinho in double swoop for £12.8m duo