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Cresswell and Doherty moves add up as Wolves chase more transfer targets

Wolverhampton Wanderers news from BirminghamLive as Wolves reporter Mike Baggaley takes a look at transfer news so far

Matt Doherty, left, and Aaron Cresswell could be team mates at Wolves next season (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Matt Doherty, left, and Aaron Cresswell could be team mates at Wolves next season (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

It’s a bit much that any team with a collection of over 30s is labelled ‘Dad’s Army’ but at least this allows us to borrow ‘Don’t Panic!’ as we assess Wolves' transfer dealings so far.

On the day England’s men’s cricket team fielded their oldest seam attack against Australia since 1928, inviting comparisons with Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and company, it became apparent that Julen Lopetegui has also turned to experience to bolster his defence.


First came confirmation that right back Matt Doherty, at 31, is having a medical to complete his return to the club, and presumably didn’t need helping across the road to get there. Then came news that Wolves are talking to West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell, aged 33.


Okay not exactly long-term signings, but what’s wrong with recruiting for the here and now? After all, Wolves’ best signing of last season was Craig Dawson, the centre half who turned 33 in May and is a former team-mate of Cresswell in the West Ham back four.

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Doherty didn’t feature much in his six months at Atletico Madrid but brings with him the experience of more than 300 games in his first spell at Molineux and the capability of challenging Nelson Semedo for the right back spot – as well as potentially freeing up 19-year-old Dexter Lembikisa to get valuable experience on loan.

And Cresswell has played more than 300 games for West Ham in the top flight, as well having a reputation for being brilliant at delivering crosses and set pieces. His potential signing is more of a surprise because Wolves have youngsters Ryan Giles, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno for that position. But if Lopetegui has decided he needs more experience there then at least he’s seen the players in pre-season.


He’s also earned the right to have his judgment respected, having done a remarkable job to lead the club to 13th last season, even if that leads to the departures of Giles or Ait-Nouri this summer.

The deal done, for 28-year-old keeper Tom King, nearly done, for Doherty, and hopefully-will-be-done, for Cresswell, are all for experienced players. But that doesn’t mean they will all follow that pattern.

After all, the club are also taking to Borussia Monchengladbach about their 26-year-old Swiss international centre half Nico Elvedi and remain keen on Bristol City’s 19-year-old midfielder Alex Scott. Not exactly Dad’s Army.

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