Wolves have reportedly joined the race for World Cup sensation Azzedine Ounahi, and the Moroccan could help Julen Lopetegui to upgrade his midfield at Molineux.

What's the word?

According to 90min, the 22-year-old has been watched by a number of Premier League clubs, including Wolves, Newcastle, Southampton and West Ham. He is also attracting interest from some of Europe's elite, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona said to be keen.

The young midfielder, who joined French side Angers in 2021, was one of the standout performers for Morocco as they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar before losing against France earlier this week.

Ounahi is contracted at the Stade Raymond Kopa until 2026, so Angers will be able to demand a premium price for the midfielder in January, especially after such an impressive World Cup showing.

A good option for Lopetegui?

Wolves' midfield was once the crown jewel of their success at Molineux, with Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho establishing a formidable partnership alongside the defensive-minded Leander Dendoncker for the Old Gold.

The Belgian has since departed for Aston Villa and been replaced by the inexperienced Boubacar Traore, while the 36-year-old Moutinho has looked way past his best so far this season, as reflected by his diminishing WhoScored rating compared to previous campaigns.

Record signing Matheus Nunes has also flattered to deceive in his Wolves career thus far, ranking a lowly 13th in Wolves' squad according to WhoScored's performance metrics, which suggests that Lopetegui well may target another midfielder in January to increase his options in that area of the pitch.

Ounahi has impressed in Ligue 1 so far this season, averaging a solid 6.74 rating from WhoScored for his performances in France's top flight. That ranks him ahead of all of Wolves' midfielders except Neves, which emphasises the quality he could add at Molineux.

However, it is his "jaw-dropping" form at the World Cup, as described by Jose Mourinho, which makes him such an attractive proposition for a number of clubs in January.

The 22-year-old was ranked by WhoScored as the joint-fourth best performer for the Atlas Lions in Qatar, while he ranked second for shots, dribbles and key passes per game, which shows how impressive he was going forward.

Given the lack of creativity and goals in Wolves' squad so far this season, Ounahi could add a real attacking impetus in Lopetegui's midfield and potentially help the Old Gold to avoid relegation, should he arrive at Molineux in January.