Max Kilman’s form eased the need for a defensive deal at Wolves

Bruno Lage was targeting a new central defender throughout the summer as one of the ‘three or four top players’ he wanted before the transfer deadline.

And although Wolves did make moves to secure a signing in that department, it is understood Kilman’s superb performances meant they were not panicking to sign a defender.

Despite playing on the right of the back three, left-footed Kilman has been an assured presence in gold and black – becoming one of the stand-out performers so far this season.

With Willy Boly and Yerson Mosquera also returning from injury, Wolves felt they had enough cover in defence. Both suffered hamstring injuries in pre-season and while Boly returned on the bench against Manchester United, Mosquera has begun training again and should be available after the international break.

Wolves did, however, make a late move for Lille defender Sven Botman.

Spanish side Sevilla were also interested as Wolves saw a bid rejected for him.

The Express & Star understands Botman wanted to move to Molineux but that Lille were unwilling to let the 21-year-old Dutchman go.

Wolves then suffered another blow in their pursuit of Boubacar Kamara.

The Marseille midfielder only has a year left on his contract and with his boyhood club willing to sell him, Wolves looked likely to land him.

But it is understood the 21-year-old was unwilling to make the move to the Premier League – and his agent even stopped taking phone calls on deadline day as both Wolves and Newcastle chased his signature.

The biggest loss of deadline day, however, was Lille midfielder Renato Sanches.

It is understood that a deal was agreed to bring the Portuguese midfielder in on loan, with a view to a permanent deal, but fell through late on with his medical.

Sanches recently underwent surgery on a knee injury and was due to face another month on the sidelines, but during a ‘zoom-style medical’ with Wolves they discovered he would instead be missing for a further two months.

On top of that, he would need three or four weeks to get up to speed with Lage’s style, meaning he would have been unlikely to feature until December or potentially the New Year.

Meanwhile, young defender Christian Marques has signed a new Wolves contract and immediately gone out on loan to Portuguese top flight side Belenenses SAD.

The 18-year-old, who has captained the under-23s for the past two years, has agreed a new deal until 2023, with the option of a further year, and will spend the full season in Portugal.

Wolves’ strategic player marketing manager, Matt Jackson, said: “Christian is going back into the country for whom he plays international football, so we know he’s going to be very comfortable there.

“He obviously speaks the language and has those family links, so from that perspective, it’s a really positive move and will be brilliant for him to see the environment in a top league.

“Christian’s had fantastic experience in our first-team this pre-season, but it’s also a great credit to the work of James Collins and our under-23 staff who have developed him to this point. This has allowed his transition into first-team football to be very seamless and for a player who is relatively young in football terms, the loan is just another step in building up his experience.”