Jean-Ricner Bellegarde transfer update for the Wolves
Gary O’Neil could be handed a late addition to his squad after a rocky start to the new season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers might provide Gary O’Neil with a new midfield weapon in the dying hours of the summer transfer window if Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is signed.
Is Jean-Ricner Bellegarde joining the Wolves?
With the resignation of their now-former manager Julian Lopetegui, Wolves have had a tumultuous start to the new season.
Despite a strong performance at Old Trafford in their opening game of the season, Wolves found themselves without a point after their second encounter. However, there was reason for optimism after their weekend victory against fellow strugglers Everton.
And, with the summer transfer window closing tonight, it appears that the Wolves supporters may be given another reason to cheer ahead of the weekend, with a new midfielder potentially arriving in the last hours.
Indeed, it has been stated that the Old Gold have reached an agreement with Strasbourg to purchase the Frenchman for around £12.8 million. Furthermore, it is thought that the club has already sent officials to France to finalize the deal before the 11 p.m. (BST) deadline.
Who exactly is Jean-Ricner Bellegarde?
Bellegarde is a 5’7″ French midfielder who is still relatively young at 25 years old. The striker has spent his whole career in France, having joined Strasbourg from Ligue 1 side Lens in 2019.
In Ligue 1, the midfielder has had some difficulty finding the back of the net. Indeed, in his last four complete seasons in the French top tier, Bellegarde has only scored five goals in 128 league appearances.
However, he has made an excellent start to the new season, scoring twice and providing two assists in his first three Ligue 1 games. And, after supplying his team with nine assists in the league alone last season, he has showed some promising signs of developing into a creative force from midfield.
But this is a player who will be brought to Molineux to provide O’Neil with some stability in the middle of the park, as he ranks inside the top percentiles for progressive carries with an impressive 4.05 per 90 minutes, according to FBref, demonstrating a fantastic ability to not only win but also drive the ball forward.
When highlighted last month, the midfielder was likewise dubbed a “rising star” by the Ligue 1 website. Bellegarde, a “all-action midfielder,” has also been the subject of alleged Premier League interest, with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace thought to be interested in the Frenchman.
Wolves have already surrendered five goals in their first two games of the season, so a stern figure in the centre of the park could be just what they need going forward.
However, if a deal is completed in the latter stages of today’s deadline, Bellegarde may be unable to play in Sunday’s game against rival bidders Crystal Palace.
