Wolves could target stunning free agent swoop for ex-Southampton gem who's won the Champions League
Wolves may be tempted to dip into the free agents market.
The summer transfer window may have slammed shut a fortnight or so ago but that doesn’t necessarily mean every ounce of Premier League transfer business is done until January.
Clubs in the English top tier, as well as those in all other divisions, can still sign players on the free agents market, as long as they were not attached to a club when the summer window closed. Following a hugely disappointing start to the new season, Wolverhampton Wanderers may be tempted to consider bringing in a fresh face.
As it stands, there aren’t exactly any world-beaters available as free agents, but there are several players who you could argue are still able to do a job at the top level. The biggest names on the list include the likes of former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, ex-Real Madrid full-back Sergio Reguilon, Ajax favourite Hakim Ziyech and ex-Tottenham Hotspur starlet Dele Alli.
Wolves could sign Champions League winner for free
There’s one player who could be a better option for Wolves than any of those, and he’s perhaps going under the radar. That man is Oriol Romeu, who was recently let go by Barcelona after a fairly successful loan spell at Girona.
The 33-year-old is undoubtedly past his best but he played a handy utility role for Barca just two years ago as they finished runners-up to Real Madrid in La Liga. He was a regular for Girona recently, too, as he racked up 1,807 minutes across La Liga and the UEFA Champions League throughout 2024/25.
Wolves have a great central midfield pairing in Joao Gomes and Andre, but the Brazilian duo lacks experience. It’s also quite handy to have a no-nonsense player to bring in as an alternative in scrappy games and Romeu, renowned for his physicality and tackling ability, could be just that.
Romeu can help Wolves’ current crop develop
If Wolves were to target Romeu, it may not just be his on-field contributions that would make a difference. Realistically, he wouldn’t play that often, especially in the Premier League, but he’s experienced so much throughout his career and he’s got a winning mentality.
Twice a senior Spain international, Romeu has three major honours to his name. The defensive midfielder won both the Champions League and FA Cup with Chelsea in 2012, while he clinched the La Liga title in 2011 during his first spell at Barcelona.
That’s obviously a long time ago, and Romeu hasn’t won any trophies since, but he’s certainly been around the block. The Barca academy product also knows what it likes to be in a relegation scrap, as he finished 17th and 16th in successive seasons between 2017 and 2019. In total, Romeu has racked up 239 appearances in the Premier League, as well as 100 in La Liga.
Romeu wouldn’t be a ground-breaking addition to Wolves. Nor would he fix all of the club’s problems on and off the field. But his presence could make a difference, and even if he were to make just a handful of Premier League appearances, he could be a great mentor for the likes of Gomes and Andre. It’s perhaps worth considering.