Liam Keen comment: Wolves to prioritise profit over potential with Nathan Collins

The short story is this – Wolves are set to make a profit on a player they signed less than 12 months ago, who has played little football under Julen Lopetegui and at a time when the club must generate funds. On the face of it, it looks like a win-win scenario.

But in Collins, Wolves are losing a player that many of the club’s hierarchy rated highly and felt could be a potential top-six defender in the years to come.

The 22-year-old is still raw and has plenty to improve, but has shown many of the natural instincts needed to become a top defender – that is why so many Premier League clubs wanted him 12 months ago and why so many have continued to monitor him.

Whether he goes on to fulfil that potential is another thing, but it now seems unlikely that Wolves will reap any of those potential rewards.

What Wolves are set to receive, however, is some short-term profit on a player they bought for £20.5million, at a time when the club needs to bring money in to manage the Financial Fair Play concerns.

In addition, Collins was unlikely to be a key member of the starting XI under Lopetegui next season, and this likely move to Brentford feels like a good scenario for all parties, even if it is a disappointment to see a player like him depart so soon.

Wolves have received £47million for Ruben Neves’ move to Al Hilal, but that was merely a good start to the money they need to bring in and with little movement elsewhere, Brentford’s pursuit of Collins has come at a good time.

The club would have jumped at the chance to offload £27.5million flop Goncalo Guedes on a permanent deal, but he looks likely to rejoin Benfica on loan again due to his ongoing knee issues. That is expected to be wrapped up soon.

Several fringe members of the squad – or those on short contracts that are now surplus to requirements – will be allowed to leave as well, but interest in Jonny Castro Otto, Daniel Podence and Raul Jimenez is currently few and far between.

If there was concrete interest in those three that could generate useful funds, perhaps Wolves would not have been so hasty in letting Collins leave, but the club must bring money in to give Lopetegui the chance to sign players and the Collins deal looks too good to turn down.

It will also be fascinating to see what happens with centre-back when Collins completes his move.

Craig Dawson is clearly first choice. Toti Gomes is liked and did well when called upon, while Lopetegui also likes Yerson Mosquera, but he may remain with Cincinnati on loan.

Wolves do not want to let Max Kilman leave, but if an offer comes in that is too good to turn down, he too could leave – while Conor Coady may yet have a future at the club.

On paper, the numbers are there to replace Collins without making a purchase, but Wolves looked at other centre-backs in January and they now must decide what the priority is when their time to sign players comes around.