Transfer column: 'Increasingly unlikely' Wolves exit, defender link and West Brom contract date

Not all posts are the view of the Express & Star with some from third party outlets.

‘Increasingly unlikely’

The latest suggestion from reports in Germany are that it is “increasingly unlikely” Wolves striker Sasa Kaladzjic departs this summer.

The striker, who turns 29 next week, has a year left on his Molineux contract plus the option of a further 12 months. He has had two loans away from the Old Gold, including last season at LASK in his homeland of Austria.

Kaladzjic, goalscoring hero for his nation at the current World Cup, was a hefty Premier League earner at Wolves and despite a pay cut following relegation, a move away from Wolves would result in a significant wage decrease, reports claim.

New boss Cesar Peixoto could be keen to run the rule over the injury-hit former Stuttgart man, signed for £15million in 2022.

Defensive star a Premier League option

Not for the first time in recent months, Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci has been linked to a possible move to Leeds.

The Express & Star reported in April that the Whites could have the Czechia star on their radar.

Krejci, 27, became a permanent Wolves player in a £26m move this summer after an impressive loan but Premier League clubs still maintain interest.

Leeds are looking for replacements for Pascal Struijk, who is joining Brighton, and reportedly have Krejci as an option, as well as free agent Danilho Doekhi and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi.

Key date in possible exits

June 30 is an important date in the football calendar as all out of contract players see their terms expire at the end of the month.

It is the final day of players being attached to clubs if they are out of contract in the summer. Those players officially become free agents after today.

That is particularly pertinent at Albion, where experienced and long-serving attackers Karlan Grant and Josh Maja see their time at The Hawthorns end as things stand.

The club revealed in May that Maja had been offered a new contract and that they were in dialogue with Grant. The forwards are assessing all options open to them - Albion started to freshen up their forward line with new recruits signed in June - and from Tuesday the duo are no longer attached to their Hawthorns deals.

Grant and Maja have been at Albion for six years and three years respectively.

Villa will be in for relegated forward

Reports on Talksport claim Villa will make a move for West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen this summer.

The 29-year-old Irons captain still managed 11 goals and 12 assists in all competitions despite a dreadful campaign for his side, who dropped from the top flight after 14 seasons.

Bowen, who reportedly earns £100,000 per week at the London Stadium, is claimed to be Villa Park-bound this summer if Unai Emery opts to bolster his wide attacking positions.

England international Bowen, a Hammers favourite, missed out on England’s World Cup squad this summer.