A reunion between Julen Lopetegui and Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna is on the cards at Wolves with Vamos Mi Sevilla reporting that the Argentina international is a target for the Premier League club.
One of the players most negatively effected by Lopetegui’s drawn-out departure from the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Acuna has found regular game time increasingly hard to come by since Jorge Sampaoli returned for a second spell at the helm.
Arguably La Liga’s finest left-back in 2021/22, the former Sporting Lisbon flyer has fallen behind Manchester United loanee Alex Telles in the Sevilla pecking order. He’s started just seven of the club’s 14 games.
And, having celebrated his 31st birthday recently, a Sevilla side stuck in the relegation zone after a dismal start to the current campaign obviously feel that the time is right to move on.
Wolves could reunite former Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui with Marcos Acuna
According to reports from Andalusia, Acuna is one of three senior players free to leave in the New Year. Fellow Albiceleste ace Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez and ex-Old Trafford whizzkid Adnan Januzaj can also go.
Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt have shown an interest in the £10 million-rated Acuna. As have an Inter Milan side scouring the market for a left-sided defender amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Robin Gosens’ future.
Wolverhampton Wanderers may have a trump card up their sleeve, however. Acuna played some of the best football of his career under new Molineux boss Lopetegui on Spanish soil.
An attacking, all-action left-back; Acuna set up five goals under Lopetegui in 2021/22. A tally of 13 yellow cards, meanwhile, highlights a tough-tackling streak. If he was to join Wolves, Acuna would provide an experienced alternative to Rayan Ait-Nouri in the Black Country.
‘He’s a competitive boy’
“He is working very well. He’s got consistency. And his response (to life at a new club) is very good,” Lopetegui said after signing Acuna for £9 million back in 2020.
“He’s a competitive boy, who understands the game and who is helping us. He’ll help us a lot during the season, I have no doubt.”
Acuna started Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup group-stage victory over Mexico on Saturday. He also came off the bench during the shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Acuna made a positive impression in that game, offering speed and drive on the left-hand side.
Argentina can seal a place in the last-16 with a win over Robert Lewandowski’s Poland on Wednesday.
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