Bruno Lage admits he is uncertain about whether Conor Coady will remain at Wolves as Premier League rivals Everton look to sign the England international, speaking to the Birmingham Mail.
The last time Everton brought in a man with a bright red Liverpool-shaped mark on his CV, things unravelled rather quickly. It’s safe to say the Toffees will be hoping Coady, a former captain of Liverpool’s youth teams, can thrive where Rafa Benitez failed at Goodison Park.
According to Sky Sports, Everton are hoping to pair the St Helens’ born stopper with James Tarkowski at the heart of a new-look backline under Frank Lampard. The logic is certainly sound. Coady, like Tarkowski, has been one of the division’s most reliable central defenders in recent years.
And while eyebrows have been raised by claims that Wolves will listen to offers for their long-serving skipper – a man who has missed just one of their 152 Premier League games since promotion – it is no secret that Bruno Lage wants to shift from a back-three to a back-four at Molineux.
Thus, ripping up a blueprint that has served Coady so well at Molineux.
Will Wolves really sell Conor Coady to Everton?
“I really don’t know,” Lage said when quizzed on those Everton rumours. “What I know is I will respect him as always. I need to understand what is best for him.”
Reports that Coady is concerned about his place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, coupled with Lage’s ‘back-four’ plans, have led to speculation suggesting that the 29-year-old will begin the new campaign on the bench.
Lage could pair Max Kilman with Nathan Collins at Leeds United on Saturday.
“It’s not just about the World Cup. The players always want to play,” the former Benfica boss adds. “Coady, and all the players since the first day, are focused and trying to improve to play in the line of four.”
“He is one of the best people I know in football. I had a great season with him, and I think he had a great season with me. He is a guy that you will keep in your friendship group because he is a lovely guy. He is my captain, he is still my captain.
“Since Wolves arrived in the Premier League do you know how many games they played? 152. You know how many games Coady played? 151. With me he played all the games.
“Massive respect from me to Coady and massive respect from the club to Coady. Now I have more solutions and I will choose the best for my team, but I cannot forget Coady and I cannot forget any player.”
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