Wolves: Lopetegui 'hoping to lure' £133k-a-week star to Molineux | OneFootball

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui may use his relationship with Real Madrid centre-back Nacho Fernandez to convince him to make the move to Molineux in January.

The current Wolves boss previously managed the defender during a spell at the Spanish giants in 2018.

What’s the latest on Fernandez?

According to Estadio Deportivo, Lopetegui is supposedly a big fan of Real Madrid pair Mariano Díaz and Fernandez, having worked with the pair during his time at the Bernabéu.

The same report says that the Wolves manager could do Madrid president Florentino Perez a favour by buying the out-of-contract centre-back in January, to stop him from leaving the Spanish giants for free at the end of his contract.

However, later developments from AS have suggested that the 32-year-old would like to sign a new deal in Madrid and has no intention of leaving the club anytime soon.

But O’Rourke believes that Lopetegui will be trying to convince Fernandez to make the move to Molineux in the January transfer window, ahead of what looks to be an inevitable relegation battle ahead for the West Midlands club, who currently find themselves bottom of the Premier League table.

What has O’Rourke said about Fernandez?

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s a player who would be a good fit in that Wolves squad right now to come in where they find themselves in this relegation battle.

“Lopetegui knows all about him, so I’m sure he’ll be hoping to use his relationship with Nacho Fernandez to try and persuade him to swap the glamour of Real Madrid for a relegation fight in the Premier League in the second half of the season.”

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Would Fernandez be a good signing for Wolves?

Fernandez would add some much-needed experience to Wolves’ backline for the remainder of the season, with the squad’s oldest centre-back currently coming in the form of 25-year-old Max Kilman, who has just 67 Premier League appearances to his name, according to Transfermarkt.

The Molineux men have developed something of a leaky backline this season, letting in 24 goals already in the Premier League this term, suggesting that Lopetegui has decided he needs some more nous at the back, something which the five-time Champions League winner could provide.

The £133k-per-week centre-back has played in just 11 matches so far this season, suggesting that a move out of the club may be needed for the centre-back to enjoy a regular run of games, something which would likely be provided at Molineux in the second half of the campaign.

Therefore, if Lopetegui can use the power of persuasion and convince Fernandez to swap Madrid for the Midlands, Wolves may just have an invaluable beacon of experience to guide them through this incredibly tough patch they’re enduring so far this season.