Wolves have several exciting young players on the books at the moment – and journalist Liam Keen has suggested Gary O’Neil could be looking to keep one around the first-team squad.
This term we have seen a number of young stars make their debuts for Wanderers, with key players getting injured.
Earlier in the season, Nathan Fraser made his debut in the Carabao Cup and has gone on to make 11 appearances.
Then, Tawanda Chirewa and Leon Chiwome were given chances and all three players look to have something about them.
Liam Keen spoke about them recently, and it sounds as though the plan is to get Fraser a loan move for next season. Chiwome seemingly has a greater chance of sticking around out of the two.
Keen also mentioned Chirewa, and it looks like he too could remain in the first-team next season…
Tawanda Chirewa might remain in Wolves’ first-team next season
Chirewa only signed for Wolves back in September 2023 from Ipswich Town, but has enjoyed exciting progression at the club.
He was very quickly invited to train with the first-team following his bargain £175,000 move, and Chirewa made his debut for the first-team against Brentford in the FA Cup and then Brighton in the Premier League.
He made a string of cameo appearances, before finally being given a start by Gary O’Neil recently against Arsenal. And Chirewa gave a fantastic account of himself, against a side pushing for the Premier League title.
Chirewa is highly thought of at Wolves, and it seems that he may potentially be sticking around with the first-team squad next season.
Journalist Liam Keen said on Shots TV: “I mentioned it previously that I think Chirewa’s not been able to show what he’s capable of in these sub appearances. Whether that game has been fizzling out or he’s just not been able to impose himself. He’s not really been able to give fans a taste of what he can.
“But then he gets that start against Arsenal and in my opinion showed a lot of really good signs of the player that is there.
“You can see players in the 21s who are just a little step above – Joe Hodge and Hugo Bueno are good examples – and Tawanda Chirewa is that. You watch him step back into the 21s, which he hasn’t done that often because Wolves have needed him, and when he does he shines. You can see how good a player he is.
“It depends a lot on what players Wolves can bring in and how many they can bring in. I think he’s a player good enough to be around this squad.”
Chirewa looks a great prospect
It is a small sample size so far with Chirewa, but Keen is well-informed on him and has seen the youngster turn out for the 21s several times and clearly, he is a real gem.
The signs have been decent in first-team games, but he hasn’t had a lot of time to show what he can do.
But his appearance against Arsenal was undoubtedly very encouraging, and it would be brilliant if he was kept around for next season.
But it sounds like it is all going to depend on what Wolves do in the transfer market. O’Neil suggested that Chirewa was growing in confidence behind the scenes, even admitting that he ‘gets into a little scrap with a few of them now’, which suggests he is starting to impose himself within the first-team environment which can only be a good thing.