While few Wolves fans would consider the sale of Max Kilman to West Ham United to be ‘good news’, it is true that every cloud has a silver signing.
And, for Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers, the upside to selling their captain in a £40 million deal is that the Molineux outfit are no longer under any pressure to sell their other key players.
HITC understands that Wolves are now operating from a position of financial strength should offers arrive for rampaging left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and £60 million-rated winger Pedro Neto.
And while there has been no shortage of enquiries for midfield maestro – including from Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Man City – neither Wolves nor Joao Gomes are in any rush to do a deal at this stage either.
Of course, Kilman will still need replacing however.
Wolves need a defender after Max Kilman joins West Ham
HITC understands that Wolves are one of the clubs keen on Strahinja Pavlovic.
The £25 million-rated Red Bull Salzburg defender who caught the eye during Serbia’s Euro 2024 campaign and shares Kilman’s preference for a left-sided role in a back four.
And, once it became apparent that Wolves were open to discussing terms with West Ham, it felt like only a matter of time before those Nico Elvedi rumours raised their head again.
And raise their head they most certainly have.
According to Give Me Sport, Wolves’ interest in the Borussia Monchengladbach stopper persists.
Elvedi reportedly came close to sealing a potential £8 million move to the Black Country nearly 12 months ago, and the Swiss stopper remains a target despite extending his contract at Borussia Park until the summer of 2027.
Gladbach director Roland Virkus was asked this week, via the Rheinische Post, about whether or not Elvedi would be allowed to leave.
That depends, he says, on what kind of offers arrive. And, as of yet, offers remain elusive. Though that could change with Wolves likely to step up their pursuit of a Kilman replacement before the new Premier League campaign kicks off in August.
Nico Elvedi still an option at Molineux
“It’s not like there are any concrete inquiries,” Virkus begins. “The market isn’t really moving yet. Money has to come onto the market, the first domino has to fall. That has to happen on the German market.
“That’s why there are no concrete inquiries yet. Something casual came up for one or two players, but we can’t say that we’re in negotiations or close to a deal.”
Turning 28 in September, Elvedi should be entering the prime of his career. The former FC Zurich man has made over 250 Bundesliga appearances in Gladbach colours and has also now passed the 50-cap threshold for the Switzerland national team.
Wolves, meanwhile, have already snapped up three new players this summer.
They beat Chelsea to Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima, landed the ‘exceptional’ Rodrigo Gomes for £12.7 million and have a classic number nine in their ranks in Jorgen Strand Larsen.
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