Liverpool transfer news: Reds plot bid to bring back Wolves star - but face Arsenal threat
LIVERPOOL and Arsenal could fight it out for Wolves captain Conor Coady in the summer - but his current employers are keen to avoid a transfer battle by offering him a new contract.
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Wolves have enjoyed a strong Premier League return and are just outside of the top half, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
A key part of their success has been centre-back Coady, who has completed the full 90 minutes in each and every one of Wolves’ 21 top-flight games ahead of their trip to defending champions Manchester City tonight (8pm).
The 25-year-old has been at the Midlands club since 2015, when he joined from Huddersfield.
But before that, Coady came through the youth ranks at Liverpool and even captained the under-21s team, but managed just two senior appearances for his boyhood club.
Yet the Daily Mail claim the Merseyside outfit are monitoring Coady’s progress having performed excellently for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side since being moved into central defence last season, having previously played in midfield and then at right-back.
But it is also reported that Unai Emery’s Arsenal are scouting Coady because of his abilities on the ball and the Spanish coach’s desire to play out from the back with the Gunners.
However, Wolves plan to act before either Liverpool or Arsenal can potentially pounce and are keen to open contract talks.
Coady has even popped up on the radar of England boss Gareth Southgate and the coach was at Molineux to watch Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Wolves last week.
Conor Coady has been a key player for Wolves across the last 18 months in particular (Image: GETTY)
Conor Coady has been an ever-present in the league for Wolves this season (Image: GETTY)
TheTelegraphreport he could be included in the England squad for their European qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro in March.
It is thought the defender’s wages earned a pay-rise to around £36,000-a-week with Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League last season.
But the Championship winners made several big moves in the transfer market in the summer and manager Nuno is apparently keen to reward Coady’s progress with another increase in his salary.
The ex-Liverpool trainee has two years left on his contract and is likely to be made among Wolves’ highest earners in recognition for his performances on the pitch and also his work off of it in the media.
Wolves fans will draw hope of keeping Coady from a pre-Christmas interview with theExpress and Star, however, in which he declared his allegiances with Liverpool are no more.
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Liverpool-born Conor Coady has thrived in a back three at Wolves (Image: GETTY)
Could Conor Coady join forces with Mohamed Salah and co.? (Image: GETTY)
"My mum and dad, since I was young, they took me everywhere, my dad comes to every game and my uncle too," Coady said.
"My wife and two kids - and one more on the way - they’re exactly the same. It's a red household I was brought up in, everyone's a Liverpool fan.
"Well, my uncle comes to every single Wolves game and he’s the only blue in our family! He gets stick left, right and centre."
Asked if they would support Liverpool or Wolves ahead of their clash last month, Coady added: ”Wolves! All day long. My family follow me everywhere. They love what this football club has done since I’ve been here, they’re big Wolves fans.
"My two boys don’t really know much about Liverpool! They’ve got Wolves kits and come to all the games. They sing the songs, it’s great.
"My boys are obsessed with Ruben Neves, they sing his song and all kinds. Henri my eldest, aged three, he loves it."