Wolves could sign two free agents, O’Neil plan revealed – sources
Wolves are interested in signing former Newcastle defender Paul Dummett and former Crystal Palace man James Tomkins, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the club are desperate to reinforce their defence and have targeted two former Premier League defenders as a result.
Gary O’Neil is planning to bring an experienced centre-back into his team and is also considering a swoop for a left-back, and signing a free agent would mean they won’t have to wait until January.
Wolves have shipped 21 goals in just seven Premier League games so far this season, to most of any team in the division, and want to find short-time fixes to plug the leak of goals.
Following an injury to Yerson Mosquera sustained in their 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa which has ruled him out for the rest of the season, they have been caught short at the back.
The departure of Max Killman to West Ham in the summer had also raised concerns after he was not adequately replaced.
Given the financial situation at Molineux, Wolves are considering free agents in a desperate attempt to sure up their unstable back line.
Wolves turn to free agent market to solve centre-back crisis
Tomkins, 35, left Crystal Palace at the end of last season having made just 12 appearances for the Eagles since the start of the 2022-23 season.
He played just seven minutes in last season’s Premier League campaign in which Oliver Glasner’s side finished tenth, with three of those coming in the closing stages of the last game of the season for the fans to bid him farewell.
Dummett also left the Premier League at the end of his contract at St James’ Park last year having fallen out of Eddie Howe’s plans.
The 33-year-old made eight appearances for the Magpies last season and just one in the previous season, with his abilities fading.
However, the former Wales international has featured as both a centre-back and left-back and could provide a short-term answer to O’Neil’s problems.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Wolves’ financial situation has greatly limited their options in the transfer market.
The Black Country club came perilously close to breaching the league’s financial regulations last year and are desperate to avoid a points deduction as Everton and Nottingham Forest suffered.
In other news, two big-name managers are keen to take over from O’Neil.
