Why Wolves should sign Thierry Correia as Doherty replacement
According to The Telegraph, Wolves have lined up Valencia right-back Thierry Correia as a potential replacement for Matt Doherty, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham this summer.
As per the report, the Spanish outfit are looking to cash in on some of their players to cope with a financial crisis and Correia could be amongst those to switch clubs.
Profile
Born in Amadora, Portugal, Thierry Correia rose through the youth ranks of Sporting Lisbon before making his first-team debut during the 2018-19 season.
The Portuguese starlet caught the eye of La Liga club Valencia, who snapped him up back in the summer of 2018. Correia featured 4 times in the league for the Spanish outfit over the course of his debut season.
The 21-year-old has represented Portugal across various age-groups between U-16 and U-21, having participated in his nation’s triumphs at the 2016 UEFA Euro U-17 Championship and 2018 UEFA Euro U-19 Championship.
Why Wolves should sign him
Essentially a right-back by trade, Correia has showcased the versatility to play as a left-back and also as a wing-back on either flank. That should make him a perfect fit for Nuno Espirito Santo’s counter-attacking system that necessitates the presence of two wing-backs on both sides of a back-three.
Matt Doherty and Jonny Otto Castro have been the first-choice wing-backs for Wolves over the past couple of seasons. But that pairing might no longer be in place at Molineux next season, with Doherty linked with an exit.
Regardless of Doherty’s future, though, right wing-back is a department where Wolves desperately need some specialist cover and Correia certainly fits the bill in that regard. A potential departure for the Irishman would, indeed, be a massive blow for Wolves but the arrival of an exciting youngster like Correia could well be an excellent long-term investment.
Moreover, with Jonny set to miss the opening few games of the 2020-21 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury, the presence of a versatile player like Correia in the ranks might just come in handy for the Midlands outfit.
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Verdict
In an ideal world, Wolves should look to keep hold of Doherty and sign Thierry Correia as the designated understudy to the Irishman. That, of course, will depend on how Tottenham opt to go about their business in the summer window.
Nevertheless, Correia looks like a real talent, having already played first-team football in Portugal and Spain. He could only get better with time and Wolves completing a deal for the 21-year-old could be a shrewd piece of business that pays off handsomely moving forward.
