Bruno Lage can continue to improve his Wolverhampton Wanderers squad with these five free agents, led by Italy forward Andrea Belotti, in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Five free agents Bruno Lage can still sign at Wolves this summer
Wolverhampton Wanderers have finalised their second signing of the summer so far, after Portugal winger Goncalo Guedes moved to Molineux in a £27.5m switch from Valencia. He followed Nathan Collins to Wolves after the centre-back’s £20.5m departure from Burnley.
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But Bruno Lage is still in need of further fresh faces in the Black Country as the Portuguese coach looks to cope without Raul Jimenez. The 31-year-old striker is currently sidelined for weeks with groin and knee injuries sustained in his team’s pre-season win against Besiktas.
Hee-Chan Hwang led the attack in Wolves’ opening Premier League fixture of the 2022/23 season against Leeds United. But the £14m January capture from RB Leipzig failed to score as Lage’s men succumbed to a 2-1 defeat and will hope to get off the mark against Fulham.
Lage knew going into the summer that Wolves would need to refresh their attacking ranks. His first season in charge at Molineux saw the West Midlands outfit only finish the Premier League term with the division’s 17th-best offence, having scored just 38 goals in 38 games.
Guedes will help to better Wolves’ record as the 25-year-old can play anywhere across the frontline. The 31-cap international also struck 11 goals and six assists across his 36 La Liga matches last term. But Lage can sign these free agents to strengthen his Wolves side, too…
Wolves can rival Roma to sign free agent striker Andre Belotti after Torino exit
Wolves can still secure a Bosman deal to sign free agent striker Andrea Belotti after Torino released the Italy international. He saw out his contract at the Serie A side in June to end a seven-year spell at the club, over which Belotti offered 113 goals during 251 appearances.
Belotti also captained Torino from 2017 up until his departure, on the back of an eight-goal Italian top-flight campaign. The 28-year-old could now serve as the ideal solution to Lage’s bid to improve Wolves’ offensive output, but he will have to rival Roma for a free transfer.
Reports by Corriere dello Sport note Jose Mourinho is closing in on a deal to take Belotti to the Stadio Olimpico. Many clubs, including in the Premier League, have sought a switch for the striker. But he gave Roma his priority for a three-year, €3m-a-year (£48k-a/w) contract.
However, Giallorossi sporting director Tiago Pinto cannot finalise Belotti’s deal until Roma conclude at least one sale beyond Justin Kluivert. The Dutchman’s expected departure will not be enough, with Eldor Shomurodov and Felix Afena-Gyan the most likely to also leave.
Bruno Lage can strengthen Wolves midfield with free agent Florian Grillitsch
As well as improving Wolves’ attack, Lage can strengthen his midfield by signing free agent Florian Grillitsch. The Austrian sought to leave Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim at the end of his contract this June, following five seasons and 149 games at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Grillitsch would provide Lage with an extra deep-lying midfield option, who can also play in more advanced positions. The 27-year-old can also feature at a high level from centre-half, with a wealth of experience playing from central defence as well as from the engine room.
Several clubs have explored moves for Grillitsch this summer, but Kicker report Fiorentina, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor and Brighton & Hove Albion all baulked at the fees his agent had demanded. So, the 33-cap Austrian has re-hired his former advisor to strike his next move.
Adnan Januzaj can further bolster Wolves wings after Goncalo Guedes arrival
Adnan Januzaj can further bolster Lage’s wide options after Wolves signed winger Guedes from Valencia. The former Manchester United midfielder is still a free agent after leaving Real Sociedad at the end of his contract with the La Liga outfit earlier in the summer sales.
Januzaj spent five seasons with Sociedad, over which the Belgian offered 23 goals and 21 assists from 168 appearances in all competitions. The 27-year-old also enjoyed his most appearances in a single La Liga campaign last term, making 33 outings for 1,626 minutes.
His total output may not be too grand, but Januzaj has attracted a wealth of interest as a free agent, whom Wolves can still sign. The Daily Star have cited West Ham United as an option, and Dean Jones added that the forward is ‘keen’ on playing under David Moyes.
Reports by AS have also linked Januzaj with a possible move to Everton, along with options at Sevilla and in Serie A with Napoli. But he remains unattached after the 2022/23 Premier League and Ligue 1 campaigns began, and with La Liga and Serie A starting this weekend.
Bruno Lage can bolster Molineux defence with Prem return for Serge Aurier
Lage can bolster the backline at Molineux in the final weeks of the transfer window with a Premier League return for Serge Aurier. The Ivory Coast right-back made 77 appearances in the division, starting 72, for 12 assists with Tottenham Hotspur between 2017 and 2021.
Spurs bought the 29-year-old from Paris Saint-Germain in a £23m deal, but he only spent the 2019/20 campaign as their first-choice. Nuno Espirito Santo then released the 81-cap defender in September, during the former Wolves boss’ short-lived spell in north London.
Villarreal picked Aurier up as a free agent and he featured frequently for the La Liga outfit last term. The full-back featured 24 times and helped Unai Emery’s squad reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. But they did not elect to keep Aurier on for another year.
Dan-Axel Zagadou still seeking new side after Borussia Dortmund departure
Dan-Axel Zagadou is still seeking a new side after his departure from Borussia Dortmund as a free agent this June. The Bundesliga outfit let the centre-half leave the Westfalenstadion, following 92 appearances in all competitions following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.
BVB bought Zagadou from the Ligue 1 giants back in 2017 without him making a first-team appearance in France. But the 23-year-old would also struggle to establish himself in North Rhine-Westphalia, and he could now be bound for a new adventure in the Premier League.
Reports by CalcioMercatoWeb claim Zagadou is destined to test himself in England, which would mean rejecting Inter Milan and Roma. He has earned interest in the Premier League as The Sun cite West Ham as an option, as David Moyes sees him as an ideal squad player.
But Lage should try to rival West Ham’s interest in signing the free agent, and offer Wolves as a destination where Zagadou will have the chance to be more than just a backup option.
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