Wolves duo Romain Saiss and Joao Moutinho could both extend their respective stays at Molineux, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.
The Lowdown: Saiss and Moutinho shine for Wolves
Bruno Lage’s side are enjoying an excellent season, with three Premier League wins in a row taking them to within just four points of fourth-placed Manchester United.
There have been star performers all over the pitch but Saiss and Moutinho have arguably stood out more than most, putting their experience to good use.
The Moroccan has shone in a back-three, making 19 league starts, while the evergreen Portuguese veteran has been superb in midfield, scoring decisive recent goals against Man United and Brentford.
Both players rank in the top seven in WhoScored’s rankings of Wolves players’ performances in 2021/22, illustrating their importance to the cause. However, as it stands, both will be out of contract in the summer.
The Latest: Spiers makes contract claim
Spiers partook in a Q&A mailbag with Wolves supporters for The Athletic on Tuesday morning to discuss the club’s January transfer business, as well as the futures of certain players at Molineux.
He was asked specifically about where things stand with Saiss and Moutinho, with the journalist offering a reassuring update on the duo by saying:
“Saiss turned down a contract offer last summer and it was expected he’d leave the club at that time. However, the general opinion among senior staff is he’s having the best season of his Wolves career and I’d expect them to start talking again in the coming weeks now that he’s heading back from the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Moutinho’s agent is Jorge Mendes, who is so influential in club dealings, so that’s a more difficult one to predict, but he seems happy and Lage loves him. He’s also in fantastic form and I’d imagine Lage will want him to stay.”
The Verdict: Great news for Wolves
Saiss and Moutinho may be 31 and 35, respectively, but their importance to Wolves is still plain to see given the impact they are still having, as evidenced above.
The former is still arguably in his prime years for a centre-back, proving to be an experienced head alongside the likes of Max Kilman and Conor Coady.
A shorter-term deal for Moutinho makes more sense given his age, but he still looks capable of shining in the Premier League for another season or two, especially if his recent heroics are anything to go by.
In other news, one player’s Wolves future has already been sorted. Find out who it is here.