Wolves 'pulled out' of deal to sign £20m Brighton ace at eleventh hour

The Old Gold are said to have neared a deal to acquire Webster’s services in the recent transfer window but pulled the plug.

The Wolves Report claims Wanderers looked set to sign Webster in the summer but then decided against going through with the move. It’s a transfer that would’ve probably made sense for all parties in hindsight, but it never came to fruition due to the late change of heart.

Wolves were and remain in desperate need of a replacement for Maximilian Kilman following the central defender’s £40 million switch to West Ham United. Webster himself, meanwhile, has fallen further down the pecking order at Brighton and the Seagulls were open to selling him at the right price.

With Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke by far Fabian Hurzeler’s preferred partnership, Webster’s game time has fallen away. The former Portsmouth man, who signed from Bristol City for £20 million in 2019, could do with a transfer away to reignite his career.

Wolves were very short at centre-half as it was when the summer transfer window slammed shut and that problem has been exposed in recent weeks. Granted, it’s been a very tricky fixture schedule, but the Old Gold have really struggled defensively.

Several injuries at the heart of defence have worsened the situation, with Yerson Mosquera ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear and Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno suffering knocks.

Had Wanderers signed Webster, they would have had better cover in the position. The 29-year-old, 126 times an appearance maker in the Premier League, can also play at right-back, so he would have provided useful versatility. A blunder from Wolves, perhaps.