Southampton reportedly wanted Notts County starlet Dongda He – but he’s joined Premier League newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers instead.
17-year-old Dongda He never played a minute of senior competitive football for Notts County. And the cynics will argue that signing a Chinese teenager is merely a see-through PR stunt from Wolves’ far eastern owners.
But if you ask Notts County fans, Dongda is a very exciting talent.
The Nottingham Post reports that Wolves have signed the teenager for a ‘significant fee’ after he made it clear that he wanted to fulfil his dream of playing Premier League football. Wolves, Championship winners in 2018, offer that chance though first-team football at Molineux could be very difficult to come by.
Though according to the Express and Star, Wolves were not the only top flight side interested in the highly-rated midfielder, who had been part of Notts County’s academy since the age of 12.
It is claimed that Southampton were also keen, so Wolves could have pulled off a coup beating a side who have developed a reputation for giving youngsters the chance to prove themselves in the Premier League, though the St Mary’s production line has slowed down a little of late.
It remains to be seen, however, whether Dongda has made the right call rejecting the club who put Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Callum Chambers and co on their way to the big time.
Wolves, however, have also signed Joao Caiado and John Kitolano this summer so it would be unfair to accuse them of just thinking short term.
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