Express & Star

Comment: Who can Wolves get for free?

It's bargain basement time for clubs up and down the country.

Published
Morgan speaks to Kenny Jackett ahead of a pre-season game at Barnsley in July 2013.

And dozens of players are on the hunt for a new club after the Premier League published a list of those who are being released.

The likes of Didier Drogba and Micah Richards are unlikely to be spotted house-hunting in Whitmore Reans anytime soon, true.

But who might Wolves have on their shopping list from the Premier League drop-outs? Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers places a few wagers.

LONG SHOTS

Wolves will be after a striker this summer whether they keep hold of Benik Afobe and Nouha Dicko or not.

Boss Kenny Jackett fancied Yannick Sagbo enough to take him on loan from Hull City last season, but no goals from four appearances didn't endear him to the Molineux faithful.

Still, Dicko didn't make much of an impression during his initial loan spell at Wolves either, so never say never.

Manchester City's John Guidetti would certainly score goals in the Championship, but his ego probably rules him out of a move to Molineux.

He recently said that his goals during a loan spell at Celtic didn't count because the league wasn't good enough.

Ditto Joey Barton, released by Queens Park Rangers. Carlton Cole spent time at Molineux many moons ago and would offer experience that Wolves are short of.

And Youssouf Mulumbu is fancied by some to cross the Black Country divide after leaving West Brom, but wage demands will surely scupper that.

WORTH A PUNT

Talking of Albion, former winger Jerome Thomas has just left Crystal Palace.

At 32 he's getting on a bit, but would have a lot to offer a Championship club – and Wolves are chasing a winger in the expected absence of Bakary Sako.

And yet another ex-Baggies man, Paul McShane, is a free agent after leaving Hull.

An ex-Baggie who would suit Wolves? Paul McShane is a free agent after leaving Wolves.

He's got experience by the bucket-load both at Premier League and international level and, at 29, is younger than most might think.

Guy Demel is a realistic target, but perhaps doesn't fit into the Wolves ethos. And 33-year-old Brede Hangeland, released by Crystal Palace, would be a superb Championship player.

Whether Wolves need him is another matter, with Danny Batth and Richard Stearman forming a solid centre-half partnership last season.

GET HIM IN

Does a midfield starlet, part of the United States national team set-up, who has been on the books of Liverpool float your boat?

Marc Pelosi would be a coup for Wolves. Still only 20, he starred at the Under-17 World Cup in 2011 and was duly snapped up by the Reds.

His downfall has been injury, with a 14-month lay-off for a broken leg effectively ending his chances of breaking through at Anfield.

Still, Wolves saw past Afobe's past injury problems and, with Pelosi playing at left-back, left wing and central midfield, he'd be an excellent addition.

As too would Scottish winger Ross Wallace, surplus to requirements at Burnley but still a good left-winger at Championship level.

Big things were expected of Japanese international Ryo Miyaichi as a youth at Arsenal. Like Pelosi, injuries have hampered his progress.

But if the pacy 22-year-old can rediscover the promise that turned Arsene Wenger's head and earned him the nickname Ryodinho, Wolves would be making a shrewd move.

And what about utility man Ryan Taylor? The set-piece specialist has – and there's a theme here – been beset with injury woes but on his day is a midfielder good enough for most Premier League squads.

Wolves were sometimes crying out for a steady, wise old head in midfield last year and, at 30, Taylor has 13 seasons of league football under his belt.

Could be a good fit if he is looking for a fresh start.

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