Wolves could have landed an ‘incredible’ Max Kilman upgrade in 2021 and they’ve been made to regret not signing him.
Wolves have experienced their fair share of transfer blunders in the past, from Ivan Toney to Enzo Fernandez, with the Old Gold suffering heartbreak in the window.
Whether that is choosing to miss out on a player or a rival stealing in to land them, it’s a trend supporters have become familiar with.
When Bruno Lage arrived at Molineux in 2021, the Portuguese tactician was looking to bolster his squad and could have landed a centre-back who is one of Europe’s best.
Wolves could have signed Sven Botman in 2021
On transfer deadline day in 2021, Wolves reportedly tabled a £25 million bid for Sven Botman, who was plying his trade at Ligue 1 side Lille at the time.
The Dutchman emerged as a target for the Wanderers as they looked to bolster their defensive options.
That bid was instantly knocked back by the French giants as they valued Botman at £35 million, with the talented defender expressing his desire to join the Premier League side.
Speaking after the transfer window shut, he said: “Sometimes opportunities come along you might want to go for. I’m in no rush but I was open to a move.”
Newcastle ended up triggering the asking price for Botman in the following summer as Wolves were left to regret their decision to not pay the extra £10 million.
Sven Botman would have been a huge upgrade on Max Kilman
Botman rose to prominence in Europe for being one of the most promising centre-backs, and he’s continued to fulfil that potential at St James Park, with the 24-year-old a key figure in Eddie Howe’s defence.
In his first season at the club, he played 36 times in the Premier League, helping the Magpies qualify for the Champions League and although his second has been hit by injuries, he still managed 17 appearances in the top flight.
Unfortunately, the Dutchman is currently recovering from an ACL injury but that shouldn’t distract people from the fact he’d have been a huge upgrade on Max Kilman, with Jamie Redknapp once saying he could become the best Premier League centre-back of all time.
An aerially dominant and technically brilliant ball-playing defender, who talent scout Antonio Mango dubbed “incredible”, Botman’s defensive and passing statistics are much better than Kilman’s.
When comparing their statistics from the 2022/23 campaign, in which Botman played 36 times, the defender comes out on top in pass completion, the number of tackles he’s making per game and his willingness to receive the ball.
Whilst he’s currently sidelined with a horrible injury, the left-sided defender would have been an exceptional addition for Wolves in the heart of their back three.