Wolves are interested to acquire the services of Inter Milan defender Zinho Vanheusden this summer to strengthen their defensive armoury.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s camp is monitoring Vanheusden amidst interest from their Premier League rivals Arsenal, it has been claimed by the Birmingham Mail. Besides, Southampton, Mainz and Standard Liege are also interested in signing him.
Wolves fared in a spectacular manner under the tutelage of Espirito Santo after their return to the top flight, securing a seventh spot finish which will see them participate in Europe next season. And expectedly, Nuno is looking at bolstering his available resources and is likely to be busy in the transfer window.
It is understood that Wolves might have to roll out between €18million to €20million to bring him to the Molineux Stadium. With many clubs desperate to sign him, it will be interesting to see where Vanheusden ends up eventually.
Zinho Vanheusden: Profile
Vanheusden emerged through the youth ranks of Belgian outfit Standard Liege and was prised away by Inter Milan’s youth academy in 2015. However, he could not break into the senior side of the Nerazzurri.
Fearing stagnation, he was shipped back to Standard Liege on loan in the summer of 2018 and he made a decent impact. Reportedly, Standard Liege are ready to sign him permanently to keep him in Belgium.
However, Premier League outfits could offer him higher wages and arguably a higher level of football which might tempt him to opt for a move to the English top flight. As of now, he has three years left on his current contract with Inter Milan.
The 19-year-old plies his trade as a central defender and has also represented Belgium at various youth levels. Owing to the ingredients he possesses, he is touted to have a big future ahead of him.
Why a last-ditch move is not a bad idea
Vanheusden has a towering stature and he has shown maturity which defies his age. He is a modern-day ball-playing defender who loves to play the ball out from the back and is technically sound.
He is an astute passer of the ball and is decisive with his tackles as well. He is also confident on the ball and his calmness under pressure helps him to initiate counter-attacks.
While Wolves do have a well stocked defensive department, their 3-at the back formation means an injury will come as a huge setback in a season in which they might end up playing a record number of games with the draining Europa League matches to be also navigated.
Hence, a young central defender who can provide them with fresh legs is not a bad option but Wolves will need to pull off a last minute deal as latest reports suggest that Vanheusden is pretty close to a permanent move to Standard Liege.