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Chelsea could be set to secure yet another summer signing as Mauricio Pochettino aims to strengthen his side ahead of the 2023/24 season.

What's the latest on Kudus to Chelsea?

The Stamford Bridge side have been linked recently with a move for Ajax starlet, Mohammed Kudus as Pochettino aims to bolster his attacking options, and new a development has occurred with regard to a potential move.

Journalist Rudy Galetti tweeted: “#Chelsea had first contacts with #Ajax for Mohammed #Kudus.

“Understand that #CFC have verbally agreed the personal terms with the Ghanaian player: now it’s up to clubs to find an agreement.

“Other 2 English teams have showed a concrete interest in him: evolving situation.”

It would be a major statement of intent should they lure the youngster away from Ajax to England, especially considering teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal are showing interest and they have Champions League football to look forward to next term.

The 22-year-old will only cost the Blues around £40m, which given their recent extravagant activity in the transfer market, it could be a bargain.

Could Mohammed Kudus replace Mason Mount?

Attacking midfielder Mason Mount departed Chelsea this summer, joining Manchester United in a deal which could be worth £60m, becoming one of the several players to leave the club.

Since making his debut under Frank Lampard back in 2019, Mount made nearly 200 appearances for the Blues and registered 70 goal contributions in that time period, a solid return.

Last season featured just three goals and six assists across 35 games and with one year left on his deal, Chelsea clearly felt £60m was a decent enough figure to let him depart.

Kudus has all the attributes to replace Mount in the Chelsea squad, and given that he is younger, he has the potential to surpass his achievements.

The Ajax starlet was among one of the finest attacking midfielders when compared to his positional peers over the previous 365 days, ranking in the top 2% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.55), top 1% for successful take ons per 90 (4.57) and top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.27) and this clearly indicates that he is a major threat in the opposition penalty area.

In comparison, Mount registered just 0.13 non-penalty goals, 0.86 successful take ons and 3.32 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 during the same period, suggesting that Kudus could even be a major upgrade on the Englishman.

Not only did Kudus register six goal contributions in the Champions League last season – four goals and two assists – but he demonstrated his attacking qualities on the biggest stage of them all – the World Cup.

He scored twice in the competition while also succeeding with 3.3 dribbles per game – a success rate of 71% – and the youngster ranked first across the whole Ghana squad for these metrics. It wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling at the first hurdle, however, the world got a glimpse of his outstanding talents.

It’s no wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the player as “electric” and should he carry on the form which saw him explode in the Champions League and the World Cup, he could be a stunning success at Chelsea as the man to replace Mount.

Arsenal have already enjoyed a fine start to this summer's dealings, but could now add the finishing touches to a squad so nearly ready to dominate the Premier League.

How much would Raphinha cost?

Although the deal in question concerns a man who has spent only one year at the Nou Camp, rumours continue to persist linking Raphinha with an exit from Barcelona this window.

The Gunners are one of many clubs to have been touted as a suitor, as the Catalonian outfit continue to be plagued by financial troubles that could well need offsetting at any given moment.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Despite this, they are unwilling to back down on their lofty price tag, having demanded €80m (£69m) back in May and clearly sticking with it.

This is despite Football Transfers valuing the 26-year-old at just €41m (£35m), with the Spanish outfit having spent £55m to pry the Brazilian from Leeds United last summer.

How many goals has Raphinha scored for Barcelona?

Should the north London outfit once again look to Barcelona for transfers, it makes it hard not to reminisce about their last successful permanent export from such a footballing heavyweight.

In the summer of 2014, many clubs lined up to offer terms to the wantaway Alexis Sanchez. He had starred for three years in the famous blue and red jersey but sought pastures new, likely to climb out of Lionel Messi's impossibly large shadow.

Selecting the Emirates as his new home, it did not take him long to acclimatise to his surroundings following the £35m move. The electric Chilean would score 25 goals in all competitions during that debut year, assisting a further 12 and lighting up English football in an instant.

This was form that would remain unrelenting, as he posted 28 goal contributions the season following, and a magnificent 48 during an exceptional 2016/17 campaign.

Despite his unceremonious exit to join Manchester United, he remains one of the finest Arsenal players in recent history, with Manuel Pellegrini even branding him: "the best player in English football" in 2015.

Should Raphinha now seek to tread that same path, the hope will be he can enjoy even half as successful a tenure as Sanchez did, tearing up defences and hopefully propelling them to elite honours from the flank.

His form last term is suggestive of reaching such a level, as he notched ten goals and assisted 12 more across all competitions during his first year in Spain.

Shrugging off a tough start to the season, he would eventually earn huge praise from his boss Xavi:

"As for Raphinha, he was intense, he attacked spaces, and gave us key things in attack and he is doing decisive things.

“Now it seems to me that he stands out more as he is an extraordinary player."

Given he departed Elland Road following an 11-goal haul that kept them afloat in the Premier League, he arguably boasts even more experience than his predecessor did when he made the same switch.

Therefore, the odds are in his favour to thrive and even surpass those levels set by the current free agent.

After all, he was lauded as a "magician" by teammate Daniel James during his final year in west Yorkshire, as if to offer an additional endorsement of his qualities.

The north London outfit enjoyed a huge masterclass with their last permanent acquisition from Barcelona, so there is every reason to take that big-money risk again, with the possibility it could bring titles back to the Emirates.

West Ham United have seen their £40m bid for Conor Gallagher rejected by Chelsea with the player left "in limbo" at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Dan Bardell.

Is Gallagher joining West Ham?

With Declan Rice's move to Arsenal now complete and £105m pocketed, David Moyes now must turn his attention to how he is going to replace his former captain.

West Ham's midfield options without Rice look threadbare, especially in deeper roles, with Tomas Soucek and Flynn Downes the only traditional first-team central midfield options.

With European football again next season, the Irons will need to bring in several players in the middle of the park, one of whom could be Chelsea's Gallagher.

The Hammers are admirers of the 23-year-old who featured 35 times for Chelsea in the Premier League last season, having now submitted a £40m bid for the England international.

The bid was swiftly rejected and at present it appears that Mauricio Pochettino considers Gallagher part of his plans for next season, although an increased West Ham bid might change his stance.

However, journalist Bardell doesn't see where Gallagher would naturally fit in Pochettino's new-look Chelsea team and formation, suggesting the player is in "limbo" at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Bardell said: "It's a weird one isn't it because Chelsea aren't blessed with an abundance of central midfielders at the moment. From looking at pre-season and speaking to Chelsea fans, it's clear that Poch is going to play this 4-2-3-1 [formation], which I would say leaves Gallagher a little bit in limbo because he's not really a number six, and I wouldn't say he's creative enough to be a number ten either.

"His best season was at Crystal Palace playing as a number eight and he had a really, really good season. I think it maybe gets forgotten a little bit how good he was at Crystal Palace."

He added: "So, Gallagher's a little bit in limbo. I feel a bit sorry for him because it feels like every window his future is a little bit up in the air. We talked about him a lot in January when Chelsea were signing all those players. He's ended up staying and, to be fair, he did play a lot of football in the second half of the season.

"But I just think if Gallagher's going to reach his potential and be allowed to do the things that he's good at he needs to go somewhere permanently."

The indefatigable midfielder was not shy of putting in the hard yards last season but ultimately struggled for consistency, frustrating fans with subpar performance levels under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.

Pochettino may be able to revive Gallagher's Chelsea career but the arrival of Enzo Fernandez in January and the potential arrival of Moises Caicedo this summer means his game time might be limited under the Argentinian coach.

How good is Gallagher?

During his loan spell at Palace in the 2021/22 season, Gallagher frequently showcased his best attributes as a box-to-box midfielder capable of scoring and creating in the opposition penalty area.

Gallagher scored eight goals and made another four in 39 appearances for the Eagles, while also diligently performing his defensive duties on a weekly basis.

His work ethic and persistence has never been in question, but the same quality he showed at Selhurst Park didn't transfer over to Stamford Bridge.

Last year he managed a comparatively poor combined four goals and assists in 45 games for the Blues, often looking nervous and uncomfortable in possession, as well as picking up nine yellow cards and one red.

Gallagher may yet have a future at the top level if he can rediscover his Palace form, but Pochettino could be tempted to cash in on the midfielder while interest in him is so high.

Hearts are set to add another player to their ranks this summer, with The Scotsman reporting that a deal is very close for Calem Nieuwenhof.

Who is Calem Nieuwenhof?

The 22-year-old currently plies his trade for Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia and despite being relatively early on in his career, has already impressed with his performances for the club.

He was handed his league debut for the side as a 19-year-old, and he was around the squad when they claimed the league title a season earlier. Despite being in his teens, he started five games during that 2020/21 campaign and didn't look out of place either, bagging a goal and an assist from midfield. Despite falling out of favour a season later – he didn't start a single league fixture and managed only two appearances – he really burst onto the scene in 2022/23.

From two games to 26 in the A-League, he became a key player of the WSW team and was arguably one of their most impressive stars with his marshalling displays in the centre of the field. He bagged four goals and one assist, the best tallies of his career, and helped them to fourth in the division.

He also ranked in fourth for the amount of tackles won by any player in the entire league with 50, and his 2293 minutes played was the tenth highest in the division. It showed how crucial Nieuwenhof became for his team, as they continued to play him week-in and week-out.

Are Hearts signing Calem Nieuwenhof?

It's these displays that could now see him leave his home country and head to Scotland. The youngster is now a wanted man, with Scottish Premiership side Hearts trying to secure a deal for the 22-year-old.

It seems as though that transfer could be quite far along now too, according to a report from The Scotsman. They state a deal it is at an "advanced stage" and there is little left to do in terms of getting the midfielder to put pen to paper. Whilst a deal has not officially gone over the line yet then, it does appear it will happen in the very near future, with Nieuwenhof rejecting the opportunity to stay on with the Wanderers in spite of a fresh contract offer.

Nieuwenhof looks to be a promising addition to Hearts' squad by Steven Naismith. Having finally made a signing in Michael McGovern on a free from Norwich, they now look to be moving swiftly on and strengthening other areas of their team, and Nieuwenhof could certainly help shore up their midfield, with his age also meaning he has the potential to get even better and perhaps to double or even triple the investment the Scottish side have made on him.

He's yet to make his debut for the Australian national side or their Under-23 team, but you would have to think that with the trajectory he is on, he could feature for them in the future. An appearance on the international stage would certainly help increase his value – and so the midfielder does seem like a worthy investment from the Jambos whether he stays for the long haul or thrives and moves on.

Aston Villa could be "able to activate a deal" to land Ferran Torres this summer if they wait for "the back end of the transfer window", claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Aston Villa transfer news – What's the latest on Ferran Torres to Aston Villa?

What Unai Emery has achieved at Villa is nothing short of remarkable. Taking the side from a potential relegation scrap to a scrap for European places, he has completely turned the club around, and it looks as if some major players in Europe could be on their way to Villa Park over the summer.

So far, the West Midlands side have already welcomed Belgian international Youri Tielemans through the door from the recently relegated Leicester City, a player that only last year was heavily linked to Arsenal.

However, the player touted with a move to the Claret and Blue that might just excite the most fans is Barcelona and full Spanish international Torres.

The Daily Mail have reported that due to the Catalan club's dire financial situation, the 23-year-old could join the Villains on a season-long loan with an option to buy for just £21.5m.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Ferran Torres to Aston Villa?

Jones was clear that the player himself has been very upfront about his desire to remain at Barcelona, which could make it harder for Villa to get a deal done. However, he points out that a deal could be made easier if he isn't given much playing time come August.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I think the Ferran Torres one could still become interesting. He obviously doesn't want to leave Barcelona, and it seems like he's made that pretty clear. But the deeper we get into this transfer window, the more I wonder if he might actually end up leaving.

"I mean, if we get to a situation whereby the season in Spain begins in August, and he's not in the picture, and you get him towards the back end of the transfer window. I wonder if that's when Villa might be able to activate a deal like that."

Would Ferran Torres be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Torres, who has been hailed as "world-class", would be a brilliant signing for this new-look Aston Villa side and be a true signal of intent that they are here to stay among the big boys of English football.

It would also be the perfect way for the Foios-born dynamo to reignite his career following a tough few years in Catalonia. The former City gem hasn't been bad for the La Liga champions, he just hasn't been able to start as frequently as he may have hoped would be the case back in 2021.

According to WhoScored, he only started 14 La Liga matches last season, coming off the bench 19 times, averaging an overall rating of 6.48 across all his league appearances.

His underlying numbers are still impressive, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 12% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 15% for non-penalty goals and non-penalty expected goals, all per 90.

He has impressed for the national side as well, with former Spain manager Luis Enrique saying: "He is one of the players whose crosses are the best in LaLiga."

If Villa can get this deal over the line, they might be fighting for more than just Conference League football next year.

Wolverhampton Wanderers losing Max Kilman this summer would be a 'bizarre' situation amid interest in his services from Napoli, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Max Kilman and Napoli?

According to 90min, Wolves are open to letting Max Kilman go this summer despite rejecting an opening bid of around €35 million (£30 million) for the 26-year-old from Serie A champions Napoli.

The report states that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is set for Bayern Munich, which looks to have stemmed their interest in taking Kilman, who could be tempted to leave Molineux on a personal level if an agreeable fee arises between both parties.

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam via Football Daily gave an update on the state of play surrounding Kilman's future, stating: "The spotlight is on another defender in Max Kilman, they have rejected an offer from Napoli for Kilman; we understand the offer to be around £30m, Wolves value him at £35m plus. So Napoli not far away, they're losing Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich, so they need to replace him, and they have identified Max Kilman as the one to do that."

As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Wolves are set to demand £34 million for Kilman as they look to maximise their profit this summer on key assets.

Defensive duo Conor Coady and Nathan Collins have already left the building this window at Molineux to join Leicester City and Brentford, respectively.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has stated his belief that the notion of Kilman leaving the Old Gold is a 'bizarre' prospect for him to comprehend.

He said: "It is a bit of a bizarre bid; I really wouldn't expect them to be looking to do that. Kilman has obviously had interest in the Premier League as well, but the fact that Wolves fans don't seem that fussed about losing him suggests it would be quite a strange transfer."

Should Wolves look to sell Max Kilman this summer?

Wolves find themselves in a strange situation this summer with Financial Fair Play; however, Sky Sports News have reported that the Old Gold are now not in a position where they are desperate to sell players, with their official account on Twitter stating: "Wolves are now under no further financial pressure to sell any more players this summer, following Nathan Collins' £23m move to Brentford."

Nevertheless, Napoli don't seem to be budging in their interest surrounding the talented Englishman, leaving Julen Lopetegui with a big decision to make heading into the new season over whether Kilman is kept or sold.

Last campaign, the 26-year-old was virtually ever-present for his current employers, making 41 appearances in all competitions for his side, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Kilman excelled in sniffing out danger in 2022/23, completing an average of 4.4 clearances per match in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen what the future may hold for Kilman as both he and Wolves evaluate his next career steps ahead of 2023/24 commencing.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing an interest in Borussia Monchengladbach defender, Ko Itakura, with Ange Postecoglou's admiration for the Japanese international dating back to his time at former club, Celtic.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to Sky Sports Germany, the Lilywhites are said to be rivalling Napoli for the signing of the 26-year-old, with the former Schalke loanee seemingly "open to a change" this summer, as per reporter Florian Plettenberg.

While there is also Saudi interest in the one-time Manchester City asset from Al Nassr, Postecoglou may be hoping that his previous desire to sign the versatile centre-back – who can also feature in midfield – could count in his favour.

Reports back in 2021 suggested that the 57-year-old was keen to sign the 6 foot 2 ace during his first summer in charge at Parkhead, with that followed by further speculation last summer which also claimed that the Greek-Aussie was eyeing a move, in order to bolster his backline in Glasgow.

Who is Ko Itakura?

The 20-cap menace has no doubt warranted such interest from Postecoglou over the years, having previously been hailed as "one of the very best central defenders in the Eredivisie" by pundit Hans Kraay during his prior stint on loan at Dutch outfit, FC Groningen.

Also described as "incredibly fast" by Kraay, the Yokohama-born ace was surprisingly unable to get a look during his time on the books at the Etihad after failing to make a first-team appearance during his three-year stint at the club, albeit with a move to north London potentially set to allow him the chance to finally enjoy a taste of English football.

Whether Tottenham should pursue a move, however, remains to be seen, with there likely to be some intrigue at the fact that Itakura is said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with Clement Lenglet, as per Opta's Player Radars.

That likeness between the pair is notably showcased by their desire to play out from the back, with Lenglet ranking in the 14% among his European peers for touches made, while Itakura ranks in the top 5% in that regard.

The duo are also alike due to their ability in the air, with the £31k-per-week Gladbach menace ranking in the 36% for aerial duels won, while Lenglet ranks in the top 38% in that regard, utilising his 6 foot 1 frame.

Although the belief is that the Lilywhites are hoping to bring the Frenchman back to the Premier League on a permanent deal following his loan spell last season, the 28-year-old hardly set the world alight in the 2022/23 campaign, having been branded an "imposter" by pundit Jamie O'Hara amid his errant form.

Remarkably, not only was Lenglet part of a defence that conceded 63 league goals last term, but the Barcelona man also recorded just a solitary clean sheet from his 26 league outings at centre-back, with his 6.65 average match rating, as per Sofascore, ranking him just 20th among his teammates at N17.

To think then that Postecoglou could land a possible carbon copy of the former Sevilla man with the signing of Itakura could be of concern to the Spurs faithful, with supporters likely to want to see an improvement on last season's shaky defence.

While the Japanese defender is his own man and is clearly a player that the one-time Australia head coach has watched closely in recent years, that similarity to Lenglet will not exactly be sparking much excitement in north London, if a deal is to go ahead.

Arsenal have not been afraid to buy from their Premier League rivals in recent seasons, having welcomed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City last summer, and already tied up a move for Chelsea's Kai Havertz this window.

Mikel Arteta, if he sees someone come available who can improve his team, will do all he can to secure them.

This has never been more apparent than of late, as his spending seems set to surpass £200m as the window rumbles on into July. If he is to end Pep Guardiola's monopoly over English football, there will be no greater opportunity.

Especially if they are the ones to pry Aymeric Laporte from the Etihad too, marking yet another player who could take that well-trodden path down the country.

Reports from Spain late last week have suggested so, with the Gunners having entered the race for the £120k-per-week Spaniard who struggled for game time last term.

Would Aymeric Laporte improve Arsenal?

Although the 29-year-old would only muster 24 appearances across all competitions during that treble-winning campaign, just a few years earlier he was a big favourite of Guardiola's.

The former Barcelona boss even went as far as to brand him "the best left-sided centre-back in the world" at the time.

This kind of pedigree was emphasised through his form in the league during the 2021/22 season, as he maintained a 7.12 average Sofascore rating, which made him the fifth-highest-rated centre-back in the whole of the Premier League and interestingly enough, the second-best left-sided centre-back behind a certain Virgil van Dijk.

What helped elevate these figures was his ball-playing excellence, as he maintained a 95% pass accuracy and a 75% dribble success rate, and tied it up with 1.8 clearances per game too, via Sofascore. That pass success rate just so happened to be the best in the entire top-flight that term, to emphasise Guardiola's claim.

FBref supplements this further, as when compared to other centre-backs across Europe, the UEFA Nations League winner sits in the top 1% for passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Combining this kind of power and elegance with William Saliba could immediately form one of the best defensive pairings in world football, and the perfect duo to underpin Arteta's possession-dominant philosophy.

Last season saw the young Frenchman maintain a 91% pass accuracy of his own, alongside a stunning 90% dribble success rate. However, his 1.3 tackles and three clearances per game outline him as slightly more capable of nullifying opposition attacks too, via Sofascore.

Standing at 6 foot 2 and 6 foot 4 respectively, but with a confidence on the ball that a diminutive creative midfielder would be proud of, the combination of Laporte and Saliba could underpin a new period of English dominance handed to Arteta by his rival.

Gabriel has done little wrong since moving to the Gunners but in Laporte, the north Londoners would only go up a gear.

A deadline has been set for the completion of Mason Mount's transfer to Manchester United from Chelsea.

Will Mount join Manchester United?

The Red Devils have already seen two bids rejected by Chelsea for Mount, the latter of which was worth somewhere between £50m-£55m when add-ons are taken into account. However, the Blues have stood firm and, while initially wanting £75m for the midfielder, would now accept a figure around the £60-65m mark.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, however, time could be running out for a move, with a short deadline set for the finalisation of the deal.

"The conversation between Man United and Chelsea for Mason Mount continues," stated the journalist. "Man United will bid again, as I told you. Mason Mount has an agreement with Man United, wants to go to Man United, but timing will be crucial."

"Sources believe that this deal has to be completed by the end of next week. So this is why for Chelsea this is another crucial point."

If Romano's sources are correct then a deal for Mount would need to be done by July 2nd, putting a potentially difficult deadline on an already tricky deal.

As Romano states, United are expected to bid again for the 24-year-old, who only managed 24 appearances in the Premier League last season for a chaotic Chelsea side who had three separate managers during the campaign.

New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly eager to hold contract talks with Mason Mount as his current deal expires in the summer of 2024. However, his time at Chelsea seems all but over now, with the club not wanting to lose him for free.

For United, signing Mount from a rival would be an astute piece of business. The attacking midfielder managed a combined 70 goals and assists in 195 appearances for the Blues and has thoroughly impressed every manager he has played under.

Who else will Man United sign?

Naturally, Man United are not only interested in signing Mount and are expected to bring in several players during the transfer window. However, even Erik ten Hag himself has admitted to being unsure over available funds given the club's current ownership situation.

It appears United are interested in signing a central striker this summer, with Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund all having been linked. It would take a whopping transfer fee to lure any of them to Old Trafford this summer and United have already pulled out of a potential deal for Kane as a result.

The Red Devils were strongly linked with Napoli sensation Kim Min-jae as a centre-back option considering his €50m release clause, but it seems Bayern Munich have jumped ahead of the English club in the queue.

Ten Hag may have to wait for clarification on the takeover process before being able to make significant moves into the transfer market this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to explore the transfer window if reports linking the club to a La Liga gem are to be believed.

Molineux was rejuvenated by the news that Julen Lopetegui will remain as manager following Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns, with the Telegraph adding that the club will be able to spend on a budget this summer.

The latest link could unleash a fierce talent at Molineux, in a player that could challenge one of Lopetegui’s top performers.

What’s the latest on Geoffrey Kondogbia to Wolves?

As reported by Spanish publication AS – relayed by Sport Witness – Wolves remain interested in Atletico Madrid midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.

AS stated that the 30-year-old would be a good signing for Wolves, explaining that he ‘fits’ what the Midlands club need both financially and on the pitch.

The link between player and club has been evident since January, when Fabrizio Romano revealed that Wolves approached the Spanish giants in the winter transfer window.

With one year remaining on his current contract, AS claims that Atleti have a price tag between €5-6m (£4-5m), placing him within the club’s tightened price range.

What could Geoffrey Kondogbia offer to Wolves?

Following the confirmation of Joao Moutinho’s departure and the saga surrounding Ruben Neves’ future, it’s expected that Lopetegui will seek a midfielder this summer.

Lauded as a “monster” by former talkSPORT reporter James Dodd, Kondogbia could be the man to not only succeed the Portuguese aces, but also challenge the current crop of talent in the squad.

Despite only making 10 starts in La Liga this past campaign, the Central African Republic gem maintained a win rate of 62% within his total duels, recording an average of 3.8 per game – reinforcing his dominance in deep midfield, via Sofascore.

At 30 years old and having played in the top divisions in Spain, France and Italy, the experienced whiz could fill the vacancy left by Moutinho in the bid to form strong connections with the talent on show at Molineux.

While Mario Lemina has impressed since signing for Wolves in January from OGC Nice, the former Southampton man could find his space challenged by Kondogbia.

When comparing the two via FBref, the Atletico ace comes out on top in attributes vital for defensive midfielders to possess.

The La Liga star averages in the top 1% of players in Europe in his position in terms of interceptions per 90, averaging 2.41 to Lemina’s 1.05, communicating the experienced player’s ability to read and dictate play.

A similar pattern is highlighted when it comes to the duo’s rate of tackles per 90, with Lemina averaging an albeit impressive 2.95 overshadowed by the £107k-per-week ace’s 3.51 per 90, which places him among the top 3% of midfielders in Europe over the past year.

Lopetegui could fulfil his wish of bolstering his squad significantly while adhering to the necessary budget limits in signing Kondogbia, and with the transfer window officially open, only time will tell if the Spaniard can make the deal a reality.