It’s ‘fight for your future’ time in the Premier League and, on the evidence of Saturday afternoon, it’s a fight Leander Dendoncker is losing amid worries he may be leaving Wolves.
His insipid, uninspired performance in a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion delivers a dizzying uppercut to his hopes of earning a new contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dendoncker’s current deal expires in July 2023. That means this summer is probably Wolves’ chance to the £12 million fee they paid Anderlecht three years ago.
Long-time admirers Lazio are reportedly interested, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Uncertainty over Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho – the former in talks with Barcelona and the latter set to become a free-agent in a matter of weeks (Athletic) – mean Dendoncker’s own future has flown somewhat under the radar.
But ask Wolves supporters which of the trio they would sacrifice in order to keep the other two. One suspects Dendoncker would hog most of the votes.
Bruno Lage, a coach who prefers midfielders with more finesse and subtlety than the hard-running, battling 27-year-old, may agree behind closed doors.
Even if the coach has made an effort to defend Dendoncker in the face of increasingly fierce criticism from the Molineux terraces.
Is Leander Dendoncker leaving Wolves?
Lage would have struggled to mount a convincing defence of arguably Wolves’ most divisive first-team player as the boos rang around a half-empty stadium this weekend, however.
“An incredibly passive performance,” writes the Express and Star, giving Dendoncker a miserable 3/10 for his performance against a vastly-superior Brighton side.
“A player who looked out of his depth, regularly gave the ball away and made little to no impact.”
Who could replace Dendoncker at Wolves?
According to The Athletic, Wolves are reluctantly planning for life without both Neves and Moutinho. Sporting Lisbon’s Primeira Liga-winning Portugal internationals Matheus Nunes and Joao Palhinha are on their summer shopping list.
Martim Neto of Benfica is another option.
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But unless Dendoncker can silence a growing throng of doubters during Wolves’ final four games of the season, Wolves may find themselves looking for a new midfielder even if both Neves and Moutinho commit their futures to the Black Country club.
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