The transfer window is now just days away from closing but it’s expected to be a busy period for Wolves and Bruno Lage.
The Portuguese manager hasn’t been able to bring too many new players to Molineux and the Old Gold now face a race against time to complete their business.
What’s the word?
One area of the squad that Wolves seem intent on improving before the market slams shut next Tuesday is a centre-half.
In recent days they’ve been linked with a plethora of central defenders including Lille’s Sven Botman and Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car.
However, there is a fresh face on their radar in the shape of Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo.
That’s according to Football League World who state that Wolves have approached the Championship side in a bid to lure him away from Craven Cottage.
Adarabioyo had a £10m release clause which expired last summer so the Midlands outfit can expect to pay more than that to get their man.
Lage needs him
With limited options in the centre of defence and Romain Saiss appearing to be an expendable asset in the squad, signing a player like Adarabioyo makes sense.
He was part of a Fulham side that got relegated last term but the English defender possesses rare traits that could prove game-changing at Molineux.
For starters, the 23-year-old stands at a colossal height of 6 foot 5, meaning he is a dominant force in the air.
Last season, Adarabioyo won 2.5 aerial battles per game, a tally that was fractionally down on his career average of 2.8 per match.
Immediately we can see why that would help Wolves. In 2020/21, only Willy Boly, Leander Dendoncker and Saiss managed more.
Meanwhile, the Fulham centre-back’s career average is actually better than the latter’s.
On top of that, he is excellent when it comes to playing out from the back. Although tall and gangly, Adarabioyo has a sense of grace to his game. He completed 86.2% of his passes last season and has improved on that in 2021/22, making 91.7%.
A glistening review from Pep Guardiola also lays claim to his wonderful ability. During his time with Man City, the Spaniard called him “exceptional”.
A loan spell with Blackburn Rovers also gave him acclaim. Former teammate Darragh Lenihan once said: “He’s brilliant. His distribution is excellent, he’s quick, he’s big, he has all the attributes. I’ve said to him that he has all the attributes to play for Manchester City in my opinion.”
Of course, his time at the Etihad didn’t work out but he’d surely suit a side like Wolves. At the age of 23, he still has his best years ahead of him.