Richard Hobbs assess who might be given a contract extension and who may leave when their deal runs out at the end of this season and in a year’s time.
Following our successive relegations to League 1 and being burdened with players on long term contracts on a lot of money. Wolves have been very weary ever since about handing out large deals and are happy to wait to offer players new deals when they are in the long few months of their contract.
There are six senior players whose contracts will expire at the end of this season and 13 whose deals run out in the summer of 2016.
So let us have a look at those who could leave Molineux in the near future.
Out of contract at the end of this season
Bakary Sako
Bar Kevin Doyle, Sako is the highest earner at the club and if he were to leave, his wages would probably cover the wages of two players. The predicament is however, that it is hard to deny that Sako earns his keep at Wolves. One of the most technically gifted players to play for Wolves in the modern era; his performances have single-handedly won Wolves matches at times during his spell here. Much of Sako’s contract situation will be very much dependent on what division Wolves are in next season and if the club are willing to break the wage structure for the Malian.
Zeli Ismail
The former prodigy’s development has been curtailed by injury and it will be interesting how much faith they show in Ismail. Loaned to Notts County at the start of the season, he scored four in 14 games before picking up a knee cartilage injury. He is unproven at Championship level, but Wolves could always keep him beyond this season to loan him out again when he is fit to continue his development with the hope he could cut it at the next level.
Tomasz Kuszczak
The Pole in the goal came to Molineux in the first half of the season on a short term deal. An experienced back up for Ikeme, Kuszczak had to bide his time before making his debut for Wolves. During his stint between the sticks, he showed that although he probably wasn’t as good as Ikeme, he was a more than adequate deputy. Kuszczak may want to play first team football elsewhere or Jackett might prefer to have McCarey as the first team’s back up keeper next season.
Sam Ricketts
The former captain has found appearances hard to come by this season with players like Doherty, Iorfa and Hause restricting his opportunities. He has had a big impact on the young players during his time at the club and was key both on and off the pitch last season. Though he has apparently been doing some coaching at the club, he has stated he wants to carry on playing, so unless he is offered a player/coach role, Ricketts will most likely leave this summer.
Leon Clarke
Oh Leon. His return to his home town club in January 2014 didn’t really pan out the way everyone hoped. After scoring for fun for Coventry in the first half of the season, Jurassic Clarke couldn’t recreate it down Molineux. He looked out of his depth in the Championship and was loaned out after Wolves signed Benik Afobe. It’s hard to see Clarke playing for the club next season.
Kevin Doyle
Doyle is the only player on the list who’s future has already been decided. The Irishman will leave Wolves at the end of the season having signed a pre-contract agreement with Colorado Rapids once his deal with wolves comes to an end.
Players out of contract at the end of next season
Carl Ikeme, Aaron McCarey, Richard Stearman, Scott Golbourne, Matt Doherty, Georg Margrietter, Jordan Graham, James Henry, Tommy Rowe, Kevin McDonald, Dave Edwards, Jack Price, Michael Jacobs.
Out of those whose contract expire in July 2016, it seems likely that Ikeme, Stearman, Golbourne and McDonald will be offered new deals in the next six months or so.
If McCarey is happy being Ikeme’s understudy he will likely stay beyond next season and Jack Price will likely win himself a new deal after seemingly make himself indispensible to the current season. Jordan Graham was highly rated at Aston Villa and will most likely be offered a new deal to continue his development here.
Michael Jacobs has struggled to make an impact this season while Rowe has struggled with injury to have a consistent run to truly show what he can do.
James Henry and Matt Doherty aren’t guaranteed a place in the first XI these days and might be tempted with a move away if they could find first team football elsewhere. Long-serving midfielder Edwards is also in a similar situation.
Margrietter has struggled to make any impact in England, let alone at Wolves. The chances are he will have his contract will be terminated before his deal runs out in July 2016.
images via sportsmole.co.uk, birminghammail.co.uk, irishsport.co.uk,
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