AZ Alkmaar's Moroccan forward Oussama Idrissi (C) fights for the ball with Astana's Croatian defender Luka Simunovic (L) and Astana's Kazakh defender Abzal Beysebekov during the Europa League Group L football match between AZ Alkmaar and FC Astana at the Cars Jeans stadium in The Hague, on October 24, 2019. (Getty Images)
According to claims from Spanish outlet El Desmarque (h/t Birmingham Live), Wolves have tabled an offer worth up to €16million for AZ Alkmaar winger Oussama Idrissi.
The 24-year-old Durch-born Moroccan international is also on the radar of Italian outfit Napoli and reigning Europa League holders Sevilla, who knocked Wolves out of the competition in the quarter-finals last season. (El Desmarque h/t Birmingham Live)
Oussama Idrissi spent time in the youth ranks of NAC Breda and Feyenoord before completing his development with Groningen, where he burst onto the scene as an exciting teenager in the Eredivisie back during the 2015-16 season.
The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in 64 appearances for Groningen in all competitions before completing a move to domestic rivals AZ Alkmaar in January 2018. Idrissi has since evolved into one of the most devastating wide players in the Dutch top-flight and also caught the eye in the Europa League last season.
Idrissi has accumulated an impressive tally of 37 goals and 25 assists in 98 appearances for Alkmaar in all competitions, hitting double-digits in goals in each of his last two full seasons at the AFAS Stadion.
Wolves have had a much busier transfer window than many would have anticipated. The Black County outfit have completed deals for Fabio Silva and Nelson Semedo while Vitor Ferreira, Ki-Jana Hoever, and Fernando Marcal have also come through the door at Molineux on the back of the sales of key players like Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota.
Nuno Espirito Santo is more than well equipped to cope with the departure of Doherty, with Semedo and Hoever competing for places in the right wing-back department. However, bringing in a replacement for Jota should be a top priority for the manager before the deadline, given that the Portuguese star’s departure has robbed Wolves of some real quality in the final third.
Wolves have Daniel Podence, Adama Traore, and Pedro Neto competing for places out wide but that’s certainly not enough considering the long and hectic schedule coupled with the challenge of competing in the FA Cup later in the season.
Oussama Idrissi, to that end, might not be a like-to-like replacement for Jota but he certainly fits the bill as a quality addition to Wolves’ forward line. The 24-year-old boasts an excellent track record of goals and assists, having proven his credentials as a potent left-winger in the Eredivisie and also in the Europa League.
The Moroccan international is also capable of operating on the right flank, thus offering Nuno Santo with quality cover in multiple areas across the final third.
It is clear from the above discussion that Wolves completing a deal for Oussama Idrissi would add a lot more depth and quality to their wide attacking options while also helping them cope with the departure of Diogo Jota. The Black County outfit need more firepower in front of goal to challenge for a return to Europe.
The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him, so Wolves could be set to wrap up a shrewd piece of business if they have their €16million offer accepted by Alkmaar before the deadline.