Hearts and Huddersfield Town on transfer alert after Wolves squad omission

Wolves have left out Dexter Lembikisa and Joe Hodge out of their squad for their pre-season tour of the US.

Liam Keen, the Wolves correspondent for the Express & Star has said that both Hodge and Lembikisa have been left behind in England because the club are looking at loan deals for the pair. Wolves are Stateside for the next week and have games against West Ham (July 27), Crystal Palace (August 1) and RB Leipzig (August 4), but neither Hodge or Lembikisa will play any part.

Both players are under contract beyond next summer and it is hoped that their next moves will help them break in to the first team picture when they return. Lembikisa is under contract until 2026 after signing a contract extension in January 2023, whilst Hodge joined from Manchester City in 2021.

Hodge has been strongly linked with a move to Huddersfield Town, with talks at an advanced stage. He was sent out on loan to QPR in February, and came back having played eight times for the Hoops, with one goal scored. His eight games were split between four starts and four substitute appearances, but he didn't play from April 4 onwards.

Lembikisa meanwhile was at the Copa America with Jamaica, and played twice as they went out in the group stage. His performance against the Dominican Republic earnt him a place in the Team of the Round. The 20-year-old was on loan at Hearts for the second part of last season, and said in March that he would be open to a return to Tynecastle Park.

In addition to Hodge and Lembikisa, Nathan Fraser has travelled because of an injury to Leon Chiwome but is still expected to leave Molineux on a temporary basis this summer. Fraser was strongly linked with a move to Shrewsbury Town in the January transfer window and was pictured at their ground, but stayed with Wolves because of a lack of forward options.