What Wolves boss Paul Lambert said about Grant Hanley following spell as Blackburn boss should excite Molineux faithful

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley one year after Paul Lambert worked with him at Blackburn Rovers.

Newcastle United’s Grant Hanley is on Wolves’ radar

A report in The Scottish Sun suggested that Wolves are one of the sides interested in signing Newcastle defender Grant Hanley this summer as Rafa Benitez plans to move the Scotland international on.

The chances of a deal appear to be somewhat dependant on whether Paul Lambert stays in charge at Molineux, with the Telegraph reporting that a dispute over transfers may lead to his departure.

The Scotsman is keen to target British-based players – including Hanley – while the club appear to be wanting to go in another direction (via Telegraph), so it seems that any hope of signing the 25-year-old seems to be dependant on whether Lambert sticks around.

And while Hanley’s year at St James’ Park has been disappointing despite the Magpies’ promotion, Lambert’s comments about the defender in May last year when both men were coming to the end of their spells with Blackburn Rovers may leave Wolves fans hoping that their current boss stays and subsequently manages to win the race to sign Hanley.

Wolves’ move for Hanley seemingly depends on Paul Lambert’s future

“He’s massive and thank God he’s been part of the Blackburn team since I’ve been here because he’s been a colossus at the back along with Shane Duffy,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“He’s one of a dying breed. People like him tend to get overlooked because they’ve been at the club for years,” he went on to add.

“It’s like, ‘it’s Grant Hanley, it’s Grant Hanley, it’s Grant Hanley’. Somebody who comes in and plays three, four or five games tend to get more accolades.

Hanley played under Lambert at Blackburn

“But from my own point of view people like him are worth their weight in gold. Sometimes they become an absolute rock for you on and off the pitch and he’s certainly been that.”

With Wolves very much a club in transition, having a player with the attributes that Lambert saw in Hanley would surely be extremely beneficial.

And if Lambert does get a deal done and manages to bring the best out of Hanley, then it would surely go a long way to ensuring that they put their unspectacular campaign behind them and push further up the table next term.