Wolves are reportedly set to land one of the best players at Euro 2024
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be represented by three players at Euro 2024, all of whom will be looking to perform at the same level as they did with their club in the 2023/24 season. Gary O’Neil’s squad finished 14th in the Premier League last season, a remarkable result for his first season in charge.
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His players at the Euros are Portugal’s Jose Sa, Pedro Neto, and Nelson Semedo. So far, just two of the three have appeared, with Jose Sa still missing. Unless there is an injury, the goalkeeper appears unlikely to replace Diogo Costa in the starting lineup after his penalty heroics.
Neto has played in three of Portugal’s four games thus far, missing the round of 16 victory over Slovenia. He started their final group game against Georgia and played 75 minutes before coming off the bench for 45 minutes in the second game. Semedo has yet to start, however he has appeared in all of his country’s games thus far.
However, by the end of the summer, the Midlands side might have a fourth player in their roster who participated at Euro 2024, thanks to links to one of the tournament’s breakthrough stars.
Wolves target Euros sensation
Fenerbache and Turkey left-back Ferdi Kadioglu are the players in discussion here. The 24-year-old has impressed as his team advanced to the quarter-finals in Germany, where they will face the Netherlands, and he is now linked with a move away from the club this summer.
According to Turkish news agency Milat Gazetesi, Wolves are interested in signing the dynamic left-back during the summer transfer window. According to the article, Wolves are ‘closely following’ Kadioglu and may attempt to sign him this summer.
However, they will have stiff competition from elsewhere in the Premier League and throughout Europe. According to the source, London trio Arsenal, Fulham, and West Ham are interested in signing the left-back, with competition from Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart, and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Valencia.
In terms of price, Fenerbache will not accept any offers less than £35 million, having already asked Dortmund for such a fee. The German giants bid £25 million, but the Turkish club turned down the offer.
Ferdi Kadioglu is the only player at #EURO2024 to…
◉ Create 5+ chances
◉ Make 5+ tackles
◉ Make 5+ interceptions
◉ Win 5+ duels
◉ Complete 5+ take-onsNo player has created more chances from open play, while only Joao Palhinha (29) has won more duels than the… pic.twitter.com/Kb7xAggsCg
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 2, 2024
Why Kadioglu would be a good signing
There is little doubt that Kadioglu has been a star figure in Turkey’s successful Euro 2024 campaign thus far. He has played 90 minutes in each of their four games, as a flying left-wing back who has impressed both defensively and in the final third.
GIVEMESPORT rated his effort against Austria in his team’s round of 16 victory as a 7/10. He received a lot of plaudits, with one observer, Ben Mattinson, describing him as a “total footballer” after his performance against Ralf Rangnick’s club.
If Wolves sign Kadioglu, he could be a suitable replacement for Rayan Ait-Nouri, who appears to be leaving Wolves this summer. According to rumors, Liverpool are big fans of the left-back.
The best of Rayan Ait-Nouri in 2023/24.
🇩🇿🍿 pic.twitter.com/mMtn7dnkbY
— Wolves (@Wolves) June 6, 2024
In terms of pure goals and assists, Kadioglu had three goals and five assists in 51 games, which are decent stats for a left-back. Ait-Nouri played only 38 games, scoring one goal and assisting twice.
According to FBref, the Turkey international also has stronger creative figures, averaging 8.83 progressive passes per 90 minutes, putting him in the top 1% of positional peers in leagues equivalent to Turkey’s top division. He also averages 1.38 crucial passes, putting him in the top 17%. In contrast, according to Fbref, Ait-Nouri averages 3.83 progressive passes and 0.97 critical passes.
The Fenerbahce defender is also an excellent ball carrier, as he demonstrated in Euro 2024. Kadioglu averages 5.19 progressive carries and 3.98 carries into the final third, putting him in the top 1%. In contrast, Algerians average only 2.59 progressive carries and 1.85 carries into the final third per 90.
| Kadioglu vs Ait-Nouri passing and carrying stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat (per 90) | Kadioglu | Ait-Nouri |
| Progressive passes | 8.83 | 3.83 |
| Key passes | 1.38 | 0.97 |
| Passes into penalty area | 2.60 | 0.50 |
| Progressive carries | 5.19 | 2.59 |
| Take-ons attempted | 2.77 | 4.44 |
| Take-ons completed | 2.08 | 2.40 |
| Carries into final third | 3.98 | 1.85 |
| Stata from FBref | ||
Both players are of a very similar profile; that is to say, fast, flying wingbacks who are able to contribute in the final third whilst also being excellent defensively. Kadiolgu’s 7.44 ball recoveries are slightly better than the 5.26 ball recoveries per 90 of Ait-Nouri.
