Leeds United tried to sign Danny Batth and Matt Doherty from Wolves in the summer and should return to Molineux again for Kortney Hause.
Helder Costa dominated the headlines for his virtuoso performance as Wolves tore apart Liverpool’s backline again and again in their famous 2-0 FA Cup win at Anfield back in January.
But the inspired performance of Kortney Hause was equally important at the other end of the pitch. The young centre-back was impenetrable as Wolves pulled off a major cup upset.
And, seven months on, he was very nearly at it again. Hause was one of the standout performers as Wolves ran Manchester City mightily close in October’s EFL Cup clash at The Etihad.
City hadn’t failed to score at home since April’s Manchester derby – but Hause marshalled a dominant Wolves backline which kept Sergio Aguero quiet and forced Pep Guardiola’s side to nick a nervy victory via a penalty shootout.
But those near-perfect performances against arguably the Premier League’s two best attacking sides has not been enough to convince Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo of Hause’s qualities. That glamour tie at the Etihad is the 22-year-old’s only first-team appearance all season.
Out of the pack
With Roderick Miranda, Willy Boly, Conor Coady and Danny Batth all ahead of him in the pecking order, it would be no surprise if Hause followed fellow outcast Ben Marshall out the door in the January window.
But there should be no shortage of interest in a player who was a regular under Paul Lambert at Molineux last season. Leeds United, in particular could be the ideal destination with Thomas Christiansen’s side in need of one more centre-back.
Leeds were interested in Hause’s Wolves team-mates Batth and Matt Doherty in the summer, per The Sun (page 61, July 9th), and should return to Molineux again to sign a highly-talented England youth star who just needs regular first-team football to build on his undoubted potential.
He’s proven himself against City and Liverpool – so why not against QPR and Barnsley?
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