Having said goodbye to Adama Traore during the recent January transfer window on a loan deal to Barcelona with a permanent move in the summer being a possibility, it seems as though Wolves could lose one of their other prominent figures in the same window.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from talkSPORT, Wolves defender Max Kilman is being eyed up by fellow Premier League side Chelsea for a potential summer transfer move.
Since joining the Midlands club back in the 2018 summer window on a free transfer from Maidenhead United, the 24-year-old has gone on to make 60 senior appearances for the Old Gold across all competitions, chipping in with one goal and two assists along the way.
Lage would be furious
Having racked up more minutes in the Premier League this season than any other outfield Wolves player, it shows just how highly-rated and important Kilman is by his manager Bruno Lage.
With an overall performance rating of 7/10, making him the fourth-highest rated Wolves player in the league this season according to WhoScored, it’s safe to say that Lage would be rather unhappy to see the centre-back leave Molineux this summer for a move to Chelsea.
After all, this is a player who has won more tackles per game (1.7) than any other Wolves centre-half this term and somebody who has made the most interceptions a match (1.8). Evidently, he is a key cog in the wheel and replacing him astutely would be a tall order for the club’s hierarchy.
However, with the Englishman’s current contract at Wolves not due to expire until 2026 and the fact that Lage’s side are on the hunt to secure European football by the end of the season, this could work in the club’s favour to keep Kilman where he is for the time being.
That said, if Wolves did indeed end up selling the defender to Chelsea this summer, it would surely be an unforgivable calamity from Fosun to get rid of one of the club’s most important and prominent figures, who is currently on course to have a long career at Molineux.
On the other hand, if Wolves were to ask for a hefty transfer fee from the west London club if they do make an approach for Kilman, they could then use that fee to sign a replacement for him if Chelsea were willing to splash the cash to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
In other news: Big mistake: “Instrumental” 12 G/A titan is proving Lage wrong, he’d be key for Wolves – opinion