Wolves have reportedly been showing interest in a goalkeeper who Neil Cutler has even apparently been to scout himself.
Gary O’Neil is gearing up for his first fuller summer transfer window after guiding the club to a respectable 14th-placed finish in 2023/24.,
O’Neil’s first objective was to keep Wolves in the Premier League and he did that with relative ease in the end. It was a very disappointing finish to the season with Wolves winning just one of their last 10 games. But 14th represents a decent campaign considering the madness of last summer.
Wolves fans are hoping for a bit more calm this time around. But they also want to see the club being productive.
And it seems Wolves are already working on bringing in players, with a new goalkeeper having been reportedly been scouted…
Wolves reportedly sent goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler to scout Jacob Widell
It has been reported by Swedish publication Expressen that Wolves are taking an interest in Jacob Widell Zetterström of Djurgårdens.
He is said to be one of the ‘hottest’ goalkeepers in the Swedish top-flight at the moment.
He has made 18 appearances so far this term, helping Djurgårdens to sit in second place in the table just three points behind leaders Malmo.
Djurgårdens’ latest win came over Mjällby AIF on Saturday, and it is reported by Expressen that Neil Cutler – Wolves’ goalkeeper coach – was actually in attendance for that game to cast his eye over Widell.
It is stated that Wolves are contemplating making a move for the 25-year-old this summer.
Expressen also provide some quotes from Djurgårdens’ sporting director Bosse Andersson, who has opened the door to a potential sale this summer. He said: “He has been the best player in Allsvenskan during the spring, he is a spectacular goalkeeper. I understand that there is talk about Jacob, and there will be there will be talk all summer.
“We have shown that before, I think. Jacob has been with us for a long time, if there is something that is good for Djurgården and him, then we will have to consider it. Ideally, we don’t want to sell any player because we have a good team.
“But some players stand out, of course, and then we have respect in situations like this for the players. If something really good comes for Jacob, then we will be able to handle it.”
Andersson was actually asked directly about Wolves’ interest, but merely replied: “No, it hasn’t reached me. It’s been a while since Mjällby got beaten at Strandvallen so I’m most incredibly happy about the victory. But of course I know that clubs follow us and our players.”
One goalkeeper will have to leave
So Wolves sent Neil Cutler to watch Widell, which may well indicate that Wolves do have a fairly strong interest in the player.
Interestingly, as per data from fbref.com, Widell actually has a higher save percentage so far this season compared to current Wolves goalkeepers Jose Sa and Dan Bentley (75.8% vs 73.4% vs 53.3%).
Widell has also saved the one and only penalty he has faced so far. Whereas Sa has not saved any of the eight he saved in the Premier League in 2023/24.
Whether Wolves move for Widell this summer will be dependent on what happens with Sa and Bentley, you would imagine.
Sa – who has just been called into the Portugal squad for Euro 2024 – finished the season fairly well in comparison to a lot of his Wolves teammates. But he has been linked with a move away from Molineux for a number of months now. Bentley may also be set for an exit if another club wants to offer him the chance to become a number one.