Conor Coady is catching Gareth Southgate’s eye and that can only be good for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the transfer market.
With the World Cup just around the corner, football fans up and down the country are calling for England’s Gareth Southgate to give their club’s player a chance.
Brighton and Hove Albion supporters want Glenn Murray in Russia, while Newcastle United’s Jonjo Shelvey and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon have also been the subject of conversation.
But Wolverhampton Wanderers, better known for their collection of Portuguese players, have caught Southgate’s eye, with Conor Coady discussed by the England boss.
“All the signs this year have been really good for him,” Southgate said, as reported by the Express and Star. “The nice thing with all of these young players is that I know them. I met Conor a number of times before I was working with the under-21s.”
He added: “He is certainly someone that, mentality wise, fits into the way we like to work.”
And so, given Coady is plying his trade in the Championship, what makes him worthy of mention ahead of Jamaal Lascelles or Lewis Dunk?
Wolves have deployed a back three throughout this season, with Coady stepping back to occupy a role in that defence – a system that England also use.
Southgate clearly wants ball-playing defenders who are comfortable in a three-man back line, with Wolves’ system fitting what he wants to see from a top English club.
While Wolves will no doubt look for more foreign talent this summer, they would do well to look at top young English prospects if they are able to offer a platform that so impressed Southgate.
A call-up for Coady would further boost Wolves’ reputation and, given they are not short on funds, they could well soon be competing for the likes of Sessegnon and James Maddison.
Such recognition for a man who had been playing in the Championship would deal another blow to both Lascelles and Dunk.
Players such as those two might also soon be considering their options, with Wolves possibly a realistic destination.
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