Liam Keen & Nathan Judah discuss seven of the current Wolves loanees. How are they getting on and what is their future ahead of a crucial summer?
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:06 Well, hello everybody. Welcome to the latest episode of the Keane and Judah show.
00:11 I am your host, Nathan Judah, and opposite me, as always, Wolverhampton Wonders reporter for the Express and star, Mr. Liam Keane.
00:18 Liam, how's it going, bebe?
00:20 Yeah, pretty good, my friend. How are you?
00:22 I'm alright, mate. I'm alright. You know, decent enough weekend.
00:26 Could have been worse, could have been better. We'll definitely divulge more later on in the week in the Wolves podcast.
00:32 But first of all, Keane and Judah show, of course, exclusively on Shots TV and Freeview Channel 2, 7, 6.
00:40 We are going into some detail today about the low knees. There's been plenty of talk about the low knees.
00:46 Lots more than maybe some would have expected. Injuries related, of course.
00:52 And we'll be going into a little bit more depth about how they're doing, how they're doing with the club, how their club is performing.
00:58 And what is their future at Wolves going into what's going to be a very important 2024-2025 season.
01:07 So, without further ado, let's go with our first player. We're going to go up to Scotland.
01:11 We're going to go up to wee bonnie Scotland.
01:13 We're going to go to, shall we go to a defender slash wingback or shall we go with a striker? You choose.
01:23 Let's start with the defender. Why not?
01:25 Okay, we're going to go with Dexter Lembikisa. Always loved watching him for the 21s keynote.
01:32 Always a bit of a live wire. And I think he's done very, very well as he's gone north of the border.
01:39 How is Dexter Lembikisa doing?
01:42 Yeah, I think the biggest thing you want from a player that's making the step up from 21s to playing senior football.
01:48 And when you watch the 21s, as you just said there, you can tell which players are going to have careers.
01:53 And whether that's with Wolves or whether it's in the championship or wherever it might be,
01:57 you can tell which players are going to make that step most of the time.
02:00 And Lembikisa to me seems like one of those players. He's done very well for the 21s, did really well last season in his handful of games that he played for the Wolves first team.
02:09 Really lovely lad as well. And I think a really good professional, someone very focused.
02:13 Obviously he was at Rotherham first half of the season and he's now with Hearts, who are third in the league, having a pretty decent season.
02:20 Of course, there's always that gap isn't there in the Scottish league up to Rangers and Celtic at the top, or there normally is anyway.
02:26 And that is the same again this season. The biggest thing he's had, or the biggest issue he's had, Lembikisa, really, is not holding down his position.
02:34 He's been battling with another international footballer for that sort of right back spot.
02:42 And in the games he has played, and the decent amount of starts, about eight or nine starts he's made, he's impressed and looks good going forward.
02:50 The biggest issue is, as I say, one, not keeping the spot as consistently as he probably wants to.
02:55 And secondly, not maybe getting quiet a couple of times defensively.
03:00 And we saw that in the Wolfs shirt really as well. Maybe one-on-one defending, maybe a bit of positioning work.
03:06 But at his age, where he's at in his career, a lot of work can be done on that.
03:10 A player who I think has got a lot out of this last year, despite ups and downs throughout the season, has got a lot out of his first major two loans.
03:19 Yeah, and I think he's going to be one of those players who's going to have a big pre-season as well.
03:23 I think Gary Neill will have a good look at him when it comes to whether they go to Korea or America, wherever they go in the world.
03:30 And I think then it will determine about where he's going to be.
03:33 Of course, you know, Wolves could do with maybe a little bit of extra, a couple of plays from squad depth point of view.
03:40 But also, I'm sure there'll be plenty of clubs after him for a loan deal next summer if Gary Neill decides to give him one more loan.
03:48 In terms of length of contract, Liam, how long has he got left and what future can you see for Dexter?
03:53 Yeah, this is going to be a running theme with a lot of these players.
03:55 He's on a contract until 2026, as a lot of them will be.
03:59 Which is still a decent enough contract length there.
04:03 Obviously, he was rewarded with a contract after making his full debut for Wolves as well last season.
04:09 So, yeah, I think for me, it's going to be dependent, and this will be the same for a couple of others as well, depending on opportunity for him.
04:16 As and when there are injuries or maybe a lack of loan opportunities or whatever it might be,
04:22 that's when players get chances in clubs and Premier League teams like Wolves.
04:27 So, it's going to be dependent on opportunities in the short term.
04:30 Long term, I think there's an opportunity here for a really good defender to come through.
04:34 But there's a lot of work to do between now and getting to that point, I think.
04:38 So, it's going to be one to watch.
04:40 And as I'm going to ask you about all these seven players, last one, if they were to sell in the summer, what's his market value?
04:45 It's always tough to say, isn't it? I think you're looking at probably a couple of million mark.
04:50 Obviously, Luke Condell almost left Wolves in January and ended up going on loan to Stoke,
04:54 but almost left for around about two million.
04:57 Obviously, he's had more loans as well.
04:59 So, it's probably roughly in that region for a player who's clearly talented, but hopefully will play for Wolves in the future.
05:05 Yeah, I'm going to say two million straight on to, as well, the next person, Fabio Silva.
05:09 Of course, so much talk about him, hasn't he?
05:11 He's playing for Rangers, played in the Old Firm derby, didn't he, the other week?
05:15 How is old Fab doing?
05:16 Yeah, I think he's definitely, it's not going to be one of those loans that is, maybe people are going to be shouting about,
05:22 but it's certainly been good for him to get minutes and get a few goals.
05:27 The issue he's had is that with a few injuries of late, he's been playing on the left wing a lot.
05:31 Doesn't really suit his game, in my opinion, and the sort of characteristics that he has as a forward.
05:37 But he's got four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.
05:40 Obviously, Rangers always going to be up there, as I mentioned previously, in the league, and a second to Celtic.
05:45 And obviously not going to go on and win that league, but having a decent enough campaign.
05:49 And for him just to get consistent minutes and play games consistently, he had a couple of early starts,
05:55 dropped out the team a little bit, but then has managed to, as I said, with those injuries, get himself consistently in the team.
06:00 And that's really the biggest thing for Fabio Silva.
06:03 Goals, obviously, is massive for a forward, and four goals in 17 in all competitions is not an outstanding return,
06:09 but it's better than not playing at all, which is the way he was when he was at Wolves.
06:14 So, yeah, to get minutes, get a few goals, it's going to help him for what will probably be a move in the summer.
06:21 Yes, we both agree on that. In terms of his contract, how long is it at Wolves? How long has he got left?
06:28 Yes, you remember when he left for the Anderlecht loan, which seems like a lifetime ago now.
06:34 He started a new contract until 2026 with a year option on top of that.
06:39 Club option?
06:40 Yes, club option. And that's still the case as it is now.
06:43 So, yeah, again, still with a decent contract length, which means Wolves can protect their investment to some extent.
06:49 But I think it's unlikely he plays for the club again, if we're being brutally honest.
06:54 Market value, Keno?
06:56 Yeah, market value, something for £35 million. You're not going to get anywhere near that, are you, if we're being brutally honest?
07:02 I think there's a lot of work to do for a deal to actually be done in the summer.
07:06 And let's never say never, something might happen, but I think the player's keen to go.
07:09 Gary Neal, albeit he won't say it publicly, is probably not keen on the player staying.
07:14 Would you get maybe £10 million for him, maybe £15 million out of push?
07:18 Depends on who's in the market for a striker, which teams are available.
07:21 I think Rangers are much more likely to pay that, so it depends who else is out there, but that might be where you're looking.
07:26 £10 million to £15 million, you say. I say £7 million to £10 million. I feel like bargain hunt here.
07:31 I'm going to say £7 million to £10 million, but we shall see.
07:35 I think if Wolves can get £15 million, close to £15 million for Fabio Silva, they're absolutely laughing, but I can't see it, but we'll see.
07:41 Chiquinho, next one. Everybody loves Chiquinho. Loves him, loves him to pieces.
07:46 Of course, you remember him doing so well at that right wing-back role, wasn't he, at Chelsea when he came on and got those assists?
07:52 A horrific injury, really. Feel sorry for the guy, but where is he?
07:57 Obviously, he had a loan, he came back, he's gone for another loan. What's the situation with him?
08:02 How's he doing out in the continent?
08:05 Yes, one I'm potentially quite excited about for Wolves going forward, which we'll come on to.
08:10 But obviously, you remember he went to loan at Stoke, which happened very, very quickly.
08:17 It was a very swift move.
08:19 So I went to Continental, baby.
08:20 I went there for three games, came back again within the same transfer window and went off to FamÃlia Cão in Portugal.
08:28 Where?
08:30 Their eighth in the Portuguese top flight, which is probably about right for the size of the club and the league, you'd imagine.
08:36 That's probably where you would expect. He's got five goals, three assists, which considering he's not had a lot of senior football,
08:43 he was obviously out at Estoril before he came to Wolves, played a few games there, but it's a pretty decent return.
08:48 And I think the overall feeling in Portugal is that he's done quite well.
08:51 He's a player who is still finding his feet professionally, considering the age he's at.
08:56 He's not as young as some people might think, but at the same time, he's still not massively experienced.
09:04 I think you need to give him the opportunities just to find his feet and figure out how to approach games and become the player that everyone hopes he can be.
09:12 Wolves signed him for £3 million and I think the hope is that he'll go on to be an important player at Wolves,
09:20 but it depends very much on the next year or so and how the summer goes.
09:24 Is that another one who's going to have a big pre-season, do you feel?
09:26 I do.
09:27 Not just how he's performing, but his fitness and his ability and how he looks.
09:31 A couple of these have got really strong chances of being in Gary Neill's squad,
09:36 but they've got to show that they're ready both physically and mentally in the summer.
09:40 I think so, yeah. He was signed on a contract until 2026, similar to other players,
09:45 and it gives Wolves an opportunity to give him a real chance in the summer to impress.
09:49 What might happen, we talk about opportunity with Mbakisa, this may be the opportunity for Chiquinho
09:55 because Wolves are lacking in attacking options, particularly out-and-out wingers, which he very much is.
10:01 Obviously, as you mentioned, he did well at right wing-back for Wolves previously,
10:05 but he's very much a wide player and with Wolves lacking players in those areas,
10:11 this could be a massive chance for him to come back and impress.
10:13 Now, the fact that he's gone to Portugal, played regularly in the top flight,
10:17 got a few goals, got a few assists and started to build confidence and build experience,
10:22 for me, feels like the perfect chance now to either go for a much harder league or come back to Wolves.
10:30 I hope it's the latter because we saw a player with real potential when he was at Wolves,
10:34 and obviously in pre-season, behind closed doors friendly at Compton,
10:38 does his ACL against Burnley and all of a sudden, he's on the back foot.
10:42 I think there's a player there that Wolves could really look at in the summer,
10:45 and considering the lack of options, it could be a really exciting one,
10:48 but it's one definitely to keep an eye on in the next few months.
10:51 If they were to sell in, market value currently, Keno?
10:54 Signed for £3 million, you're probably getting your money back, maybe slightly more,
10:58 considering this last year, but not a massive market value at the moment, I would say.
11:02 OK, I'm going to say £5-7 on that one, we'll see in the auction later on.
11:07 Right, that's it from us for the first part, we'll be back with the final four low knees after this short break.
11:14 [Music]