According to Football Insider, Wolves are interested in signing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the summer, which could impact Leander Dendoncker’s position in the team.
The same outlet reports that Wolves failed in their pursuit of the 24-year-old in the last summer transfer window. However, they are set to try their luck again and, should they succeed this time around, it could give manager Nuno Espirito Santo some decisions to make.
The Portuguese coach, for example, may opt to keep Dendoncker in defence should the club manage to land defensive midfielder Phillips, who could line up in the middle of the park alongside Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho. According to WhoScored, in the Premier League this season, Dendoncker has played as a centre-half on 14 occasions following a campaign where he was predominantly deployed in the middle (as shown on Transfermarkt).
He has also performed solidly from a defensive point of view so it could make sense. Averaging 1.9 tackles per game, he is making more tackles than fellow defenders Romain Saiss (1.5) and Conor Coady (1.2). The Belgian international also boasts an 85.2% pass success rate, the third highest in the squad, showing that Nuno can continue to trust him when it comes to playing out from the back.
Like Dendoncker, Phillips is also capable of playing in defence and in midfield, so there is every chance that he could be brought in to be used in both areas.
However, with Dendoncker coping at the back, perhaps the former Anderlecht man’s future could be there while Phillips or another midfielder is brought in to support Neves and Moutinho.
Wolves fans, should the club sign Phillips? How would his potential arrival impact Dendoncker if at all? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!
