Bruno Lage and Wolves have been given the green light in their transfer pursuit of Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car.
What’s the word?
That is according to a report from L’Equipe, who claimed that the Ligue 1 club are intent on selling the Croatian defender this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year.
As such, it is said that Marseille are willing to entertain offers in order to avoid a direct repeat of the Boubacar Kamara scenario, in which they lost a precocious asset for free due to the Frenchman running down his contract and consequently joining the Old Gold’s Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
As per L’Equipe, it is said that the Croatia international was the subject of a £13m bid during Lage’s first transfer window in charge at Molineux, with Marseille rejecting the offer and Wolves having not signed a centre-back since.
Ruben Dias 2.0
Operating in Jorge Sampaoli’s possession-based team (second-highest in Ligue 1 last term with 62.1%), Caleta-Car has clocked up metrics which are very similar to that of Manchester City colossus Ruben Dias.
Quite simply, with the similarity between the two players, especially throughout the possession phase, Wolves could well sign their own version of Dias in the Croatian asset.
Completing 73.18 passes per match at a success rate of 92.1%, Caleta-Car registers metrics which are scarily close to the Portugal international, who completes 74.12 passes per game at a success rate of 93.6%.
Elsewhere, they are both right-footed centre-backs, both 25 years of age, both scored two goals in their respective leagues, and are of similar height, with Dias standing at 6 foot 1 and Caleta-Car 6 foot 2.
The pair also boast a similar amount of carries, with Caleta-Car averaging 60.95 per game with around 5.22 progressive carries; whilst Dias averages 62.79 carries per 90, with 8.01 of these being progressive.
The similarities between the two are eerie, but with the Croatian rated at around £15m, it means that Lage could sign Dias 2.0 for Wolves. It’s a move which would massively bolster the Old Gold’s backline and comes with an element of safety, with his metrics hinting that the Marseille tank would suit Premier League football.
This is also backed up by Dejan Lovren’s admission, who believes that his compatriot can play in England and once said that he “will explode” onto the big stage.
In other news – “I keep hearing…”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge Wolves update that will leave supporters buzzing
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