Wolves may promote “excellent” teen if Semedo leaves this summer time

Wolverhampton Wanderers will probably be hoping to construct on a powerful 2023/24 season subsequent marketing campaign. Final time period, many thought they might battle to outlive the drop within the Premier League with big monetary constraints within the switch market.

Nevertheless, they defied expectations and managed to complete 14th within the desk on 46 factors, simply three factors behind tenth place Crystal Palace, that means a top-half end was not out of the realms of risk. Wolves’ end is an actual testomony to the fantastic job O’Neil has finished at Molineux.

It’s a baptism of fireside at the beginning of subsequent season for Wolves. They journey to the Emirates Stadium on the opening day, to face back-to-back runners-up Arsenal, earlier than internet hosting Chelsea at Molineux in sport week two. The Midlands membership then make the journey to the Metropolis Floor to face a Nottingham Forest aspect who will little question be determined to enhance on their Seventeenth-place.

With a giant season arising, the Previous Gold may properly look to maneuver some gamers on from their squad. There’s one main participant who may properly be on his method out, after virtually leaving final summer time.

Nelson Semedo may go away Wolves

The participant in query right here is Portugal worldwide right-back Nelson Semedo, who’s at present representing his nation at Euro 2024. The 30-year-old was linked with a transfer away in the course of the 2023 summer time window, however may now depart this 12 months, as a substitute.

Semedo is one in every of three senior gamers who’re getting into the ultimate 12 months of their contract after the membership triggered a two-year extension to his present deal final season. Nevertheless, as per Steve Madeley of The Atheltic, he has the “most delicate state of affairs” out of the three expiring gamers’ offers.

Madeley explains that, on account of such a excessive worth, the Portugal right-back “must signal a brand new deal or be offered this summer time” for the membership to maximise his worth. They paid upwards of £37m to signal the participant from Barcelona again in September 2020.

The 30-year-old performed a good quantity in 2023/24 below O’Neil, 41 instances to be actual, together with 36 appearances and three,093 minutes within the Premier League. Nevertheless, his contract state of affairs means a transfer may properly come about for the defender, they usually would possibly properly have a ready-made alternative within the academy.

Why Dexter Lembikisa may very well be Semedo’s alternative

The participant who may very well be a really perfect alternative for Semedo is younger right-back Dexter Lembikisa. The 20-year-old spent final season on mortgage at Rotherham earlier than Scottish aspect Hearts took over his mortgage spell in January.

The younger right-back performed an essential half for each Rotherham and Hearts. He featured 44 instances in all competitions for each golf equipment, taking part in a powerful 3,336 minutes. He’s additionally a full worldwide with Jamaica, choosing up ten caps up to now, and lately making his Copa America debut.

Lembikisa is extremely considered at Molineux. He has already performed 4 instances for Wolves’ first staff, making his debut on the twelfth of November 2022, in opposition to Arsenal. His most up-to-date look for the Midlands aspect got here in opposition to Liverpool within the FA Cup in 2023, though he has solely ever performed as soon as within the Premier League.

His former academy coach at Wolves, Steve Davis, is one man who speaks extremely of Lembikisa. Following an FA Youth Cup victory over Tottenham in 2022, Davis described the teen as a “high participant”, explaining that he’s “an awesome instance to the opposite lads”, earlier than calling him “excellent”. That’s excessive reward from such an essential determine in your footballing journey.

Given Lembikisa’s expertise on mortgage this 12 months, and his significance for Jamaica on the Copa America, he may properly be able to step into the sneakers of Semedo in 2024/25. Ought to the Portuguese full-back go away Molineux over the summer time, Lemibikisa may very well be a shock alternative.

The teen is a right-back who’s assured going ahead and is an effective crosser of the ball. Not solely that, he’s nice defensively, averaging 3.59 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes as per Fbref.

The 20-year-old may very well be the best alternative for Semedo and a very good choice at proper wing-back for O’Neil in his transitional again three system.

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This could be a sensible signing for Molineux to make.