After Cunha, Wolves can sign club’s captain in January for £17m fee

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La Liga colossus David Garcia has a £17 million release clause in his Osasuna contract as Julen Lopetegui looks to bring the Wolves target to the Premier League in January, according to Mundo Deportivo. 

Now, ‘Lopetegui’s La Liga revolution’ has quite a nice ring to it.  

After hiring the former Sevilla and Real Madrid boss as Bruno Lage’s replacement, it seems the men from Molineux are going back to the well in pursuit of players capable of kick-starting a new Old Gold era in 2023. 

According to AS, Wolves are planning a raid of Atletico Madrid; £22 million forward Matheus Cunha and £18 million centre-back Felipe on the radar. Real Madrid duo Nacho Fernandez and Mariano Diaz have already been linked. 

Ditto Sevilla’s Argentina international left-back Marcos Acuna. 

Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves like Osasuna defender David Garcia

Now, we can add Garcia’s name to an ever-growing list of Spain-based transfer targets. The Pamplona-born centre-back has spent his entire career at hometown club Osasuna. At 28, however, the prospect of a fresh start in a new league could hold some appeal; Mundo Deportivo reporting that Garcia has a £17 million release clause in his contract. 

If Wolves were to trigger said clause, Osasuna would be powerless to prevent their long-serving vice-captain from departing in the winter window.

Garcia, who can also play in defensive midfield, has captained Los Rojillos in eight of their league games so far in 2022/23. The 6ft 1ins Spaniard is a major threat from set pieces too. He scored four times for Osasuna last season, and already has one goal this term.

If the two-footed, versatile Garcia was to join Wolves, he would add some valuable experience to a backline shorn of the influence of Conor Coady and Romain Saiss. The Max Kilman – Nathan Collins partnership started brightly but has looked more and more vulnerable as the season has progressed. 

Furthermore, no one in Lopetegui’s squad can claim to be as effective in the air as Garcia. His average of 2.6 aerial duels won per game puts him well ahead of Kilman, Collins and Toti Gomes (WhoScored).