Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City have both not had an ideal season. With both clubs in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle, they are reportedly looking for reinforcements to help keep themselves in the top tier.
With both the Foxes and Wolves struggling particularly at the back, both have been looking at options, including at each other’s players.
Coady Set to Re-Join Wolverhampton Wanderers?
Craig Dawson has been a well-travelled centre-back who has played at the top levels of English football but has also had time with the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Rochdale. The 34-year-old joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 and has been a regular part of the back line for the club.
Conor Coady was part of the title-winning Foxes last season after signing with the club from Wolves in 2023. Though he has struggled with injuries lately, the Liverpool product, when healthy, is a dependable contributor to the Leicester City back line or midfield. His flexibility has been quite useful for the clubs he has played for.
John Percy has reported that both Midlands clubs Wolves and Leicester City are in talks for a swap of Dawson and Coady. Nothing concrete has emerged and talks are in the early stages, but the swap would see Coady return to Wolves after his short time with the Foxes.
Both Players Would Add Something to Prospective Clubs
Craig Dawson heading to the East Midlands would be a fascinating move. Dawson has regularly been a part of the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad for the last couple of seasons.
The Rochdale native is well-travelled and has experience at various levels of the English footballing pyramid. His veteran presence would be welcome in a squad full of youthful talent.
The 34-year-old centre-back is good at retaining possession and is known for his long ball delivery. Additionally, he is quite the threat on set pieces and is quite the committed defender who clears the ball well usually.
However, this season, Dawson had a bad game against Everton where he scored two own goals, so he might have problems under pressure from opposing attackers.
Conor Coady is another veteran defensive midfielder/centre-back who has a different set of skills than Dawson. Coady is much more adept at organizing a defence and passing the ball into spaces that most cannot.
However, as mentioned above, he has been injury-prone as of late, and that would be a concern for Wolves, especially considering they need all the help at the back that they can get. Coady would be a good addition to help generate an attack from the back. If he can stay healthy, he would be a great addition to any backline.
Potential Gains and Losses on Both Sides
Both clubs involved in the talks are both fighting with each other in a relegation scrap, and it seems like a move that might be counterproductive to both team’s ambitions.
However, with both sides needing a different type of defender than the ones they have currently, the move, should it happen, would be beneficial to both clubs.
This kind of deal shows clubs will do anything if it helps improve their quality and their chances of meeting their goals for the end of the season.
While nothing is guaranteed, especially on Deadline Day, a move like this would be unique and show that both sides are willing to try and fix one of their weaknesses to stay up in the top flight.