If the Wolves players were still embarking on their daily trips to Compton instead of being on holiday, then it would be a strange environment for them in which to train.
For the first time since 2017, there would be no Nuno Espirito Santo to welcome them in for their fitness and ball skills. It’s a strange place for Wolves, with the Old Gold stuck at their first real crossroads in the last four years.
They face losing a number of their key players, including Ruben Neves and Adama Traore, while there is the prospect for a summer of decreased spending.
No pressure then, Bruno Lage. The Portuguese is waiting on a work permit to determine whether he can become the new manager at Molineux but, according to The Athletic’s Tim Spiers, some big names have thrown their hat in the ring.
The reporter was unable to disclose who those coaches could be but Steve Bull was enthralled by the idea of seeing Zinedine Zidane arrive in the Midlands.
The Frenchman has just left Real Madrid for the second time as manager and is available without the added complication of a compensation fee. A move to Molineux would be far-fetched but it’s certainly one which would set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Speaking to Football Transfer Tavern, Bull said: “Zinedine Zidane, he could do a job all day long. He was my favourite player when I was growing up, he’s absolutely top drawer and he’s showed it as a manager at Real Madrid. I think there’s going to be names bandied about left, right and centre now.”
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Zidane’s name is one of the biggest in world football and his record with the Spanish giants dictates that he would be a marvellous appointment for Wolves.
As a manager, he has won the Champions League on three occasions, triumphs which fell in successive years. He has won the Club World Cup twice and he is a league champion with Madrid in 2016/17 and 2019/20. [Transfermarkt]
Real fell short of expectations this season as they lost to Chelsea in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition and were beaten to the La Liga title by their city rivals Atletico.
However, Zidane has an aura, one which not only would instantly command the respect of the players in the dressing room but could also attract some eye-catching new signings to the Midlands.
A bullish character, the 48-year-old could be game-changing for the younger players in the squad, too.
They may have grown up idolising players like Zidane, so to have him in on the training pitch passing on guidance and experience could be invaluable. A proven winner both as a player and a manager, to have a head like that in charge is a rarity.
The very least Wolves could do is make an enquiry.