Comment: The Wolves trio in need of a fresh start
The January transfer window is here, and Nuno Espirito Santo is assessing what he has – and what he wants.
The winter market has a history of being a little more treacherous than the summer, with everyone in the Premier League looking to add to their squads in a bid to push up the table, or merely survive.
But, for Nuno, this seems to be an opportunity to fine-tune what has proved to be a very competitive top-flight group.
A few changes would help, even if they are not desperately needed.
And here we look at three players who could depart, and be replaced, in the interests of competition.
Kortney Hause
Linked with moves to Villa and Albion over the past week, Hause could do with a move – either on loan or a permanent basis – to revitalise his career.
The 23-year-old centre-half has made just one league appearance since Nuno took charge, with that being a seven-minute cameo in a 3-0 victory against Brentford last season.
Surprisingly young, given he has made more than 70 appearances in old gold after joining from Wycombe in 2014, there are reasons to keep Hause on – being quick, strong and home-grown.
But it is difficult to see him breaking into the team anytime soon, with midfielders/defenders Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
Hause said in pre-season: “Minutes have been a thing I have been struggling to get in recent months or years to be fair.
“You know training every day is good but you know you want to get your games, the minutes, and the stuff playing from the full 90 minutes.”
Now seems to be the time to give Hause his wish and let him play regular first-team football somewhere else.
Leo Bonatini
The Brazilian has had a mixed time at Wolves.
The first half of his loan spell last season was fantastic, with goals flying in at a regular rate.
But the second half was far less fruitful.
Bonatini suffered from a lack of confidence and, frankly, never looked like finding the net as Wolves saw out promotion to the Premier League.
Despite the goals drying up though, he was signed on a permanent basis in the summer and a League Cup strike at Sheffield Wednesday in August had some fans thinking he could end up being a decent back-up option this campaign.
He has not started a single league game though.
In fact, his last appearance was more than two months ago – half-an-hour in the 3-2 loss to Tottenham on November 3.
Raul Jimenez has been the man leading the line for Wolves, and he has been one of the star players so far this term.
But even when he has not quite been at it or needed support, Nuno has opted to play Diogo Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro or Adama Traore down the middle instead.
Bonatini, at this stage, purely seems to be making up the numbers and with Wolves in the market for a striker, namely Tammy Abraham, it only seems fair to stop the 24-year-old from floundering further.
Dominic Iorfa
This is the most obvious one of the three.
Iorfa was included in Wolves’ Premier League squad, seemingly in case of an injury crisis, but has not been anywhere near challenging Matt Doherty for the right wing-back berth.
At one time thought to be a future star for the club, Iorfa needs to leave in order to not be forgotten by the footballing world.
