Jason Denayer is set to join Shabab Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates top flight with Wolverhampton Wanderers missing out on the chance to bring the Belgium international back to the Premier League, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Is there a re-call clause in Conor Coady’s contract?
We jest, of course. But with Nathan Collins now unavailable for the next three games due to the red card he picked up for that brutal spartan kick on Jack Grealish last time out, the lack of defensive depth available to Molineux boss Bruno Lage is now starting to become a growing concern.
Toti Gomes (just 360 top flight minutes) appears the leading candidate to take Collins’ place alongside Max Kilman. Yerson Mosquera, meanwhile, could be handed for a Premier League debut. But if you thought that Collins’ absence would be enough to convince Wolves to ramp up their interest in free-agent Denayer, well think again.
Why did Wolves not sign free-agent Jason Denayer?
“I know him very well,” Bruno Lage said a couple of weeks ago. “We talking about a centre-back that I know very well. I played against him in the Champions League (Benfica vs Lyon in 2019/20).
“We are talking about a player who has played in the Champions League and for his national team. Let’s see what can happen.
“If we have a chance to bring one experienced player to replace (Nottingham Forest’s Willy) Boly, it would be better.”
With Denayer heading to the Middle East, Lage has no choice but to put his faith in youthful exuberance instead.
“Shabab Al Ahli are closing in on Jason Denayer deal. Agreement now imminent with Belgium centre-back, sources close to the club confirm,” Fabrizio Romano writes.
“Denayer will fly to the UAE in the next few hours to discuss final details and then sign the contract.”
According to reports, Wolves are lining up a deal to sign Alexander Djiku in January. The Ghana international is entering the final ten months of his contract with Ligue 1 strugglers Strasbourg.
That, however, will come far too late to rectify the problem caused by Collins’ unavailability.
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