According to an earlier report from Football London, Arsenal and AC Milan were interested in signing Mexico’s World Cup star Miguel Layun. However, a move failed to materialise and the versatile Mexican joined Villareal in the summer.
Layun was one of the cornerstones of Mexico’s march to the last 16 at the World Cup in Russia. He started his professional career with Mexican clubs Veracruz and America and had a brief spell in the Serie A with Atalanta before making a switch to English football with Watford back in the 2014-15 season. The Watford fans will remember him for scoring on his Premier League debut against Everton.
Blessed with the rare versatility of being able to play on either side of the backline and also as a winger who can switch flanks at will, Miguel Layun is a fast, agile and technically-gifted player who can contribute equally to both defence and attack.
Renowned for his tactical awareness, the 30-year-old not only has the ability to take on the opposition with his pace, acceleration and dribbling skills but also has the stamina and tenacity to track back and close down the attackers. A player with a keen eye for a cross, the Mexican can also add impetus to the attack with his perfectly weighted balls into the box.
Furthermore, he does not hesitate to put this foot through the ball and is a set-piece specialist, known for his ability to supply his teammates from corners and set-pieces.
As a matter of fact, the Mexican has averaged 23.3 passes per game with an accuracy percentage of 80. He has averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.2 tackles, 2.3 crosses and 1.2 successful long balls per game for Villareal in the La Liga this term, figures which are enough to suggest that he is capable of playing as a full-back, winger and a wing-back.
To put things into perspective, Wolves can do themselves a world of good by pursuing an interest in this hugely experienced and versatile Mexican in January.
In fact, they should sign him to provide cover and competition to someone like Matt Doherty. With his ability to play on the left as well, he can challenge the likes of Jonny Otto Castro and Ruben Vinagre for a spot in the first-team. In other words, the two-time Mexican World Cup hero might be instrumental in improving Nuno Santo’s squad depth.
After a promising start to the Premier League season which saw the newly-promoted outfit bag points against Manchester City and Manchester United, Wolves have just lost a bit of momentum. Nuno Santo’s men have claimed only a solitary point from their last four outings in the Premier League, which included defeats at the hands of Watford and Brighton.
Wolves still sit 11th in the standings with their heads held high but Nuno Santo needs to bring in some new faces to freshen up the squad in January.
Matt Doherty has been one of the standout performers for Wolves this season, putting in a number of solid shifts in the right-wing back position. However, they do not have a possible replacement should the Irishman be sidelined with an injury. Given the fact that they rely on a back-three system, Doherty’s absence will leave them with a huge void to fill down the right.
With the mid-season trading period not far away, Wolves should start keeping tabs on Miguel Layun and they should definitely table a handsome bid to land him in January. The Mexican has got all the experience in the world and he might propel Nuno Santo’s men to a top-ten finish, if not, a spot in the Europa League next season.