Julen Lopetegui has not been Wolves manager for long, taking a job only a month ago, but it seems as if the Spaniard is set to repeat a regular mistake made by Bruno Lage during his spell at Molineux.
According to the Daily Record, the Old Gold are set to send Connor Ronan out on loan in the January transfer window, with Aberdeen and Hibernian amongst those interested in the attacking midfielder.
They also claim that Championship clubs could be interested in the 24-year-old, who has managed just two appearances in all competitions so far this term, as it seems unlikely that he will be able to force his way into Lopetegui’s first-team plans when the Premier League resumes after the World Cup break.
Since joining Wolves from Rochdale as a teenager, Ronan has endured a wide range of loan spells with the likes of Grasshopper Zurich, DAC Dunajska Streda and Portsmouth.
During another loan spell with Blackpool in early 2020, the young midfielder earned the praise of caretaker manager David Dunn.
He said after the Irishman’s first goal at Bloomfield Road: “I thought he caught it extremely well, so I’m pleased for the kid he’s got his first goal for the club and hopefully there’s more to come. I thought he was excellent last week at AFC Wimbledon as well, he’s got such a good touch. He makes things happen for us.”
However, Ronan’s best loan spell came last season with St Mirren, as he registered eight goals and five assists in 30 appearances for the Scottish Premiership side, earning their player of the season award.
It had seemed likely that he could force his way into Lage’s plans after such an impressive campaign north of the border, but instead he has been wasting away at Molineux, forced to largely play academy football once again and not featuring once under Lopetegui’s predecessor.
Ronan’s contract at Molineux is set to expire at the end of next season and it makes little sense to loan him out yet again, as it seems clear now that he is never going to make it as a regular in the Premier League.
Lopetegui should avoid making the same mistakes as Lage and simply offload Ronan on a permanent basis, rather than continuing to pay his wages as a fringe player until June 2024.