Wolves centre-back Conor Coady is set to complete a permanent move from Molineux to Everton this summer.
The Lowdown: Coady out on loan
The 29-year-old has been a stalwart for Wanderers down the years, making a total of 317 appearances and helping them get back into the Premier League.
Last summer, Coady traded Wolves for Everton, however, joining on loan and becoming a key man for them this season, starting 21 league matches.
The Englishman is out of contract at Molineux at the end of the 2024/25 campaign but it looks as though he could be moving on well before that date.
The Latest: Deal close
According to Football Insider, Everton will trigger the £4.5million buy option in his loan deal at Goodison Park, joining the club permanently this summer.
Sean Dyche is believed to be a ‘big admirer’ of the Wolves man and fully intends to retain his services moving forward, while the player himself is also happy back in his childhood city.
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The Verdict: Right time to sell
In truth, this comes as no great surprise, with Coady’s departure last summer a clear indication that he didn’t see his long-term future at Molineux.
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While the idea of the centre-back returning to Wolves isn’t necessarily bad, he does turn 30 this Saturday and he is costing Everton £55,000 a week.
Wolves cannot afford to match that amount if he was to want a new deal, especially for a player of his age, so Julen Lopetegui would be wiser to look at younger defensive options this summer.
Coady will certainly be remembered as a great servant for the Old Gold, being hailed as one of the ‘best guys’ in football by Bruno Lage, but now is a natural time to part ways.