Wolverhampton Wanderers, rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, are considering a dramatic swap deal with fellow strugglers West Ham United in a bid to revitalise their squad this January.
Desperate Times at Molineux
Wolves are in a dire situation, sitting rock bottom without a win in their first 14 fixtures. Their latest setback was a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, sealed by a late Igor Jesus goal. New manager Rob Edwards, who left Middlesbrough last month to replace Vitor Pereira, has inherited a team in the relegation zone alongside Burnley and West Ham, a daunting 12 points from safety.
West Ham's Interest in Jose Sa
According to reports, West Ham United are keen on a move for Wolves' experienced goalkeeper Jose Sa. The 32-year-old Portugal international, under contract until 2027, has lost his starting spot to Sam Johnstone this season, making just five appearances. His former boss at Wolves, Nuno Espirito Santo, now in charge at the London Stadium, is said to be driving the interest. Sa has been a reliable servant since his 2021 arrival, playing 151 games for the club.
A Proposed Solution: The Striker Swap
In a potential twist, Wolves could look to turn West Ham's interest into a strategic opportunity. The Midlands club have been linked with Hammers striker Niklas Fullkrug. The German international, a £27million signing in August 2024, has found himself frequently used as a substitute and appears surplus to Nuno's plans at West Ham.
Edwards' side could propose a direct swap deal: Sa heading to East London in exchange for Fullkrug. This would address needs for both clubs. Wolves would gain a vastly experienced target man to provide competition and a different option to Jorgen Strand Larsen, while West Ham would secure a proven Premier League goalkeeper.
With Fullkrug's future uncertain and interest also reported from German side Wolfsburg, Edwards may need to act swiftly. This high-stakes deal between two relegation rivals could be the move that ignites the January transfer window.
