Harry Souttar in action for Australia
Wolverhampton Wanderers now face competition in the race to sign Stoke City defender Harry Souttar, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Wolves targeting Souttar
It was reported at the end of December that the Old Gold are potential suitors for the 24-year-old, with Julen Lopetegui wanting to bolster the defensive options at Molineux.
According to TEAMtalk, Stoke would find it hard to resist any sizeable offers for the defender, who is said to have received interest after his impressive performances with Australia at the World Cup.
The Latest: Wolves facing competition…
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones claimed that a number of teams have been scouting out a potential move for Souttar since the tournament in Qatar, so the Old Gold may need to fend off interest from elsewhere to secure the defender’s services.
The transfer expert said: “Harry Souttar obviously had a very good World Cup, and he’s got a very good mentality and belief really, in his own ability.
“There have been a few clubs monitoring him since the tournament, and he definitely seems like someone who could make this step up.
“I think Wolves would be a decent move for him, but again, they won’t get a clear run at him. So, they’re going to have to have a really, really good window here to get these players.”
The Verdict: Get it done
The 6 foot 6 titan is a force to be reckoned with in the air, winning 4.33 aerial duels per 90 in the past year. That places him in the 94th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s ‘best 8’ leagues, and this figure is far higher than the match averages of 2.26 from Nathan Collins and 2.32 from Max Kilman for the same metric.
Wolves’ defence has not been their main issue this season, and the fact that they are the Premier League’s lowest scorers is to blame for their current relegation battle. However, the Australian would still be a solid option to have at the back, one whose aerial presence offers something different and a route out of danger from defending set pieces.
Having scored six goals in 14 games for his country, there is some indication that the ‘absolute monster‘ – as lauded by football writer Jordan Campbell – would be a threat in the opposition penalty box, and Lopetegui should move swiftly to secure Souttar’s signature before another interested club beats him to it.
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