Wolves' first January transfer could be ex-Man Utd star and England hopeful once compared to Frenkie de Jong

Wolverhampton Wanderers remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and must act quickly if they are to give themselves a realistic chance of beating the drop. That comes on the pitch but also in the late days of the transfer window, with the West Midlands outfit sat 17 points behind Nottingham Forest despite a more promising run of performances and results since the turn of the New Year.

Wolves have spent eight seasons in the top flight and that run is seriously in danger of coming to an end after spending practically the entire campaign on the bottom of the table, after a summer in which several of the club’s best players departed and their summer arrivals have not all hit the ground running. Rob Edwards’ side have yet to make an addition this January but have seen a surprise link come to the fore with a player currently plying his trade in France’s Ligue 1.

Wolves linked with Angel Gomes signing this January

Angel Gomes was once one of Manchester United's top prospects but is now linked with a shock January move to Wolves from Marseille, as per talkSPORT. The 25-year-old is said to be “in talks” with the Premier League side, who are interested in sealing a loan deal until the end of the season.

The former Carrington academy graduate joined Marseille on a free transfer from Lille over the summer but has recently slipped down the pecking order, playing just eight minutes of action across the last five league games.

Gomes made his senior England debut under Lee Carsley in 2024 and has seen his chances of a first call-up under Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup reduce due to his lack of game time. It can also be argued that playing in Ligue 1 was always a disadvantage for the midfielder, who was given opportunities by his former England Under-21 manager Carsley but has fallen away from the fold after the emergences of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton.

Now linked with a move to Wolves this month after summer interest from the likes of Everton and Tottenham failed to materialise, Gomes could return to the Premier League for the first time since leaving United in 2020 after just five league appearances for the club.

Gomes was once compared with Frenkie De Jong and Rodri

A holding midfielder with the ability to dictate the game from deep, Gomes has developed from playing further forward as a number 10 previously to becoming the box-to-box midfield star of today.

"Technically and tactically he is excellent and he's a player people are going to be really excited to see,” said Paul McGuinness, Gomes’ former Man United youth coach to Sky Sports after the player was called up to the full England squad for the first time. "A Frenkie de Jong who can receive the ball off the back four and then move away, use disguises and so on. Someone who has those skills to receive the ball with their back to goal to start the play and keep control. We've seen Rodri do it for Spain and Man City. That's one profile that we would be trying to promote within our country to try and improve.”

Gomes has previously expressed a desire to return to the Premier League if the opportunity came about and with the World Cup around the corner, he may see this as his time to shine back in his home country. Could he become the catalyst to inspire Wolves to the greatest of escapes?