Premier League clubs have shown great interest in RB Salzburg’s Hannes Wolf and the interest has been mounting as the January transfer window approaches. Tottenham Hotspurs, Arsenal and Southampton have all joined the list of admirers to which Everton was already included and are monitoring the attacking midfielder. The Austrian midfielder has also been linked with German clubs and his play style in somewhat similar to Spurs star Christian Eriksen. Wolf would like to idolise someone like him as Eriksen is clearly one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
The 19-year old came into the limelight when he inspired his side RB Salzburg to the UEFA Youth League title in 2017. His seven goals in seven matches inspired his side to lift the trophy that year, he also provided two crucial assists in their 2-1 win against Benfica in the final of the tournament.
He made his breakthrough as Europe’s one of the most exciting prospects in the following season. Wolf featured in 45 matches for Salzburg and scored 12 goals along with 8 assists to inspire his side to a dominant league win. Salzburg were very impressive and also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season where they were eventually knocked out by French side Olympique Marseille. His outstanding performances earned him his first call-up to the national side.
Wolf is contracted to Salzburg till 2020 and have added four more goals to his last season’s tally along with nine more assists in the 21 appearances this season. Wolf also had a stint at FC Liefering in the Austrian second division before he joined Salzburg in 2017. He proved his mettle there and his stats are evidence to the fact that the 19-year old if nurtured well can be a future star.
Salzburg have started the knack of providing the platform to prodigious talents who have gone on to bigger and better things across Europe including Liverpool duo Naby Keita and Sadio Mane.
Wolf is Salzburg’s prized possession and Marco Rose and his men would not want their main creative midfielder to leave the Red Bull Arena but the circumstances at times does not suit clubs like Salzburg and sometimes the player is eager to take the next step forward in his career which means moving away from the place he currently is. Considering the Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil conundrum at Arsenal Unai Emery may bring in someone like Hannes Wolf to become a long-term replacement for the Gunners. Wolf can be a good replacement for Arsenal considering the fact that the German is heavily linked with Serie A giants Inter Milan.
The World Cup winner was benched for the 2-1 victory against Bournemouth, while ‘back spasms’ forced him to miss the 4-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday. Adding more fuel to the fire, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has said his former club to let go of Ozil and keep hold of Aaron Ramsey at the Emirates with Piers Morgan also supporting his statements.
With passing time the transfer window is coming closer and the uncertainty is increasing at Arsenal, as the Spanish gaffer will be up ahead of a very tough call of whom he wants to keep and who will face the axe.
