This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Wolverhampton Wanderers look set to be active in the January transfer window.
Previous reports from Birmingham Live suggested that the club were keen on adding central options in both defence and midfield, and that was before mainstay colossus Willy Boly went down injured.
While in the past seven days or so, the possibility of Real Madrid recalling Jesus Vallejo has gained traction following a story in Spain suggesting that the La Liga giants have been unhappy with the amount of game time the 22-year-old has played this campaign.
The Spanish centre-back has managed just 162 minutes in the Premier League with the likes of Romain Saiss and midfielder Leander Dendoncker being preferred over him, so Madrid could well exercise their right to cancel the loan deal in January.
However, this doesn’t come as majorly bad news as fans simply do not rate the European U21 Championship winning captain, although, this would make a move for a defensive option in the winter window of utmost importance.
On the Chalkboard
Wolves could well have a solution, as well as an upgrade, in one of their reported targets.
According to The Sun, the west Midlanders are one of three top-flight teams chasing SC Freiburg centre-back Robin Koch, who is currently valued at £9m by Transfermarkt.
The report suggests that the Bundesliga outfit would be willing to listen to offers of £15m should any bids come in for him in a few weeks.
Koch, who made his senior debut for Germany just last month, is a player that fits Nuno Santo’s profile almost perfectly as he has been utilised in midfield before, playing 49 of his 155 games in the role, per Transfermarkt’s recorded matches.
He’s also able to play on either side of defence at full-back, which means he should be comfortable slotting in either side of sweeper captain Conor Coady.
The 23-year-old’s ball-playing abilities are displayed by his passing success rate of 84.5% this term with WhoScored also showing his aerial ability – 3.8 aerial duels won per game – and defensive strength – 3.8 clearances, 1.3 interceptions and 1.1 tackles per game.
Bundesliga’s official website has even drawn comparisons to Bayern Munich stalwart Javi Martinez, labelling him a ‘rangy battering ram’ who has a ‘tremendous willingness to get stuck in.’
Koch has been a regular appearance in Christian Streich’s backline with 14 appearances this term, and his stock is only going to rise now that he’s been given an opportunity by national team coach Joachim Löw, so Wolves must act now and clinch him in January – irrespective of if Vallejo stays or goes.
Meanwhile, Nuno Santo has been left drooling over one ‘exceptional‘ player in his side…
