One of the biggest components of Wolves’ successful migration from Championship life to the Premier League was Matt Doherty.
The Irishman was a huge presence in their team, dominating the right-hand side of the pitch with swashbuckling and dominating performances from wing-back.
Doherty had a hand in nine goals during the Old Gold’s first campaign back in the top flight in 2018/19, putting in all-action performances on a regular basis.
There were even calls for him to be included in the PFA Team of the Year that season, and a place in it would have been well deserved. He missed out on that accolade but he did eventually earn a major move, joining Tottenham last summer.
His replacement was the mega-money Nelson Semedo, a player who is vibrant and energetic in the final third but a tad shaky from a defensive point of view.
Wolves have signed plenty of full-backs in the last 12 months with Marcal, Ki-Jana Hoever and Rayan Ait-Nouri all walking through the door at Molineux. However, that hasn’t deterred Bruno Lage from considering further options in that third of the pitch.
One player with whom the club has been linked is Czech Republic’s Lukas Masopust. The right-sided player caught the eye for his country as they reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship and Slavia Prague have now reportedly offered him to Wolves.
If they did land the 26-cap international, he could be their new Doherty. Like the Irishman, Masopust is capable of playing on the right of midfield or further back in more defensive areas.
The 28-year-old has featured at right-wing back, right back and in a holding role throughout his career.
He rampages forward and is used to terrorising defenders. After a headline-making performance in the Prague derby last season, Sparta’s Lukas Julis said: “Masopust made fools of us.”
It’s easy to see why that’s the case. He is one of the most progressive players in his position, ranking incredibly highly in some vital areas.
Over the last year, Masopust ranks in the 95th percentile for progressive carrying distance among players in the same position. Furthermore, he ranks in the 87th percentile for carries into the final third.
He also set up seven goals last season, demonstrating exactly why he could be Wolves’ new Doherty in terms of providing a consistent threat from the right flank.
Creating chances was one of the Irishman's biggest qualities and that’s an area where Masopust clearly thrives as well.