Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly wanted to sign Anderlecht’s Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker ahead of their Premier League return.
There aren’t many more exciting or ambitious projects in European football right now than the one taking place at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Aided by Jorge Mendes and funded by Chinese billionaires determined to turn the club into a Premier League and European force, Wolves have lured some truly outstanding footballers to the modest Molineux, including fully fledged Portugal internationals Ruben Neves, Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho.
One player who did not seem too impressed with Wolves’ rise, however, is Leander Dendoncker.
According to Foot Mercato, the 23-year-old Belgian international has snubbed a move to the Black County after Wolves were understood to have made an offer of around £17.5 million.
It has been clear for some time that Dendoncker believes he is ready to fly the Anderlecht nest and follow in the footsteps of Vincent Kompany, Adnan Januzaj, Youri Tielemans and co. But it seems that the gifted midfielder is not interested in signing for last season’s Championship winners.
Though this could be a missed opportunity not just for him but for Wolves too.
Nuno Espirito Santo may boast a midfield partnership most Premier League clubs would dream of in Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves but Dendoncker is a massive talent, one of the most promising in his position anywhere in Europe who would have given the Iberian stars a run for their money.
Furthermore, he’d have been a perfect fit for the central, sweeper-like role in Wolves’ back three – a position he has thrived in at times for Anderlecht. £17.5 million now but he could be worth far, far more in the years to come.
Foot Mercato add that there aren’t many obvious options on the table now for Dendoncker – so could he regret saying no to the Wolves project?
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