According to a recent report by Express and Star, Wolverhampton Wanderers have accepted Leeds United’s bid for their left wing-back Barry Douglas. The Whites have managed to secure just two incomings to the Elland Road, that too on loan, in Jamal Blackman and Lewis Baker from the ranks of Chelsea. However, it seems that they are nearing a deal to get hold of Douglas.
Wolves secured their promotion to the Premier League showing amazing consistency and enviable dominance throughout the course of the season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side clinched the English second division silverware and in their endeavours, Douglas played a crucial role from the left wing-back region. He was a regular starter last season and earned rave reviews.
However, Wolves have successfully signed Jonny Castro from Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan spell and are still in the process of making Manchester City young gun Oleksandr Zinchenko sign on the dotted line this summer for a reported fee of £16million. Besides, Ryan Giles has impressed in the left wing-back slot in the pre-season, with Douglas sidelined with a muscle strain.
Apparently, Douglas is expected to be deemed surplus to the requirements of the club and is nearing an exit from the Molineux Stadium. However, there is no denying that Leeds United will strike gold if they are successful in luring him to the Elland Road. The report states that he is on the verge of negotiating his personal terms with the Championship outfit and the deal is likely to see the light of the day.
In 39 league appearances for Wolves last season, the 28-year-old scored 5 goals and mustered 14 assists. Besides, he made 2.1 tackles, 1 interception, 1.7 clearances and 0.1 blocks per game on an average. Without any doubt, Douglas is an astute crosser of the ball and maintains a fine balance between his defensive and offensive endeavours. His passing is unwavering in front of pressure and that helps him in making the right decision in the final third.
Besides, he is comfortable when he has the ball at his feet, has the experience of plying his trade in the Championship and is a set-piece specialist as well. The Peacocks need some winning mentality to be injected in their arsenal after a disastrous campaign last time around. The Scottish international, having played an instrumental role in Wolves’ promotion last season, should be able to rejuvenate the players if his move to the Elland Road materializes in the coming days.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored