Why Wolves should renew their interest in Danny Loader
According to Birmingham Mail, Wolves’ target Danny Loader left Reading last Tuesday after turning down a contract extension with the Championship club.
The 19-year-old striker started just once in the league this season, with six more appearances coming as a substitute. A highly-rated finisher, Loader was handed his debut as a mere 16-year-old by Jaap Stam back in August 2017. He was given his league debut by Paul Clement at Wigan Athletic the following season.
Loader had a breakthrough campaign at Reading last season, making 21 league appearances. However, he has been hugely disappointing this season.
The youngster was earlier offered a new long-term contract by Reading but the proposed deal was later taken off the table because of the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
He was also given a contract extension to stay at the Madejski Stadium for the remainder of the season but the youngster chose to turn it down. He is now a free agent. Meanwhile, Loader came close to joining Premier League side Wolves on transfer deadline day last summer before Reading pulled the plugs.
Though the deal never materialised, Wolves still seem to be interested in the young forward. They have kept him on their radar, according to a report last month.
Loader can offer Wolves more options in front of goal
Wolves are enjoying their best season in the Premier League since achieving promotion in the 2017-18 season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently vying for a Champions League spot for next season.
Much of Wolves’ success this season is due to the fine form of their star striker Raul Jimenez, who has scored 15 goals from his 32 league appearances so far.
His excellent goal-scoring prowess has attracted rivals Manchester United, who are keen to add him to their squad. However, apart from him, none of the side’s strikers has performed, making complete sense of Wolves’ interest in the young Loader.
Wolves bought Pedro Neto from Lazio last summer. However, he is more of a second striker rather than a traditional centre-forward. They also roped in talented striker Patrick Cutrone. But he struggled to adjust to the new life at Molineux. This saw him being offloaded on loan to Fiorentina in January.
That said, it wouldn’t hurt Wolves if they make a move for a young and talented striker like Loader, who will be itching to prove a point if given an opportunity. Hence, they should renew their interest in their long-term target as he can offer more options in front of the goal.
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Verdict
Despite having enough back-up in the striking department, Wolves haven’t benefitted from it as none of them has managed to deliver this season. This means Loader’s arrival will only be helpful if he manages to find his form.
Moreover, he is still in his teens and can develop under Nuno’s guidance. He could also prove to be an excellent future investment by the club if he goes on to fulfil his potential.
