Wolves are preparing to bid farewell to Hugo Bueno for the season as the defender is poised to join Feyenoord on loan.
It’s set to be a busy end to the summer transfer window at Molineux as Gary O’Neil and Matt Hobbs gear up to replace Pedro Neto.
Wolves sold the winger to Chelsea for a fee of £54m, leaving the manager with a sizeable void to fill.
Neto’s exit isn’t the only outgoing to be sanctioned this week, as Hugo Bueno’s loan move to Feyenoord is set to be announced.
How Hugo Bueno feels about leaving Wolves to join Feyenoord on loan
Time away from Molineux over the 2024/25 campaign is a smart move for Bueno, whose game time was limited last term due to both injury and competition in the squad.
The 21-year-old missed a significant opportunity to develop his game further after his breakthrough under Julen Lopetegui, with Rayan Ait-Nouri rising to prominence in O’Neil’s set up.
Speaking on Bueno’s pending exit on loan, O’Neil hinted at the Spaniard’s desire to seek more playing time over the next year, via Express and Star.
“I would have loved to have kept him as one of our left-backs,” O’Neil explained.
“But Rayan’s been fantastic for us for a while and Hugo feels that he doesn’t want to sit behind Rayan, wait for him to slip up or wait for him to get injured to get some football.”
Bueno’s stance is fair given the importance of regular football at this point in his budding career, with the season-long switch to Feyenoord a brilliant opportunity for the youngster.
Gary O’Neil stands firm on Bueno’s future beyond next summer
While O’Neil has been flexible in letting Bueno leave on loan for the season, the manager reinforced his plan for the 21-year-old after his spell in the Eredivisie.
The boss admitted that while the Spaniard “wants to go” and play frequently at a good level, the left-back “understands” that his long-term future is at Molineux.
For now, sending Bueno out on loan is a smart move for Wolves and a crucial one for the player, despite it leaving O’Neil shorter in depth at left-back.
That being said, another strong season for Ait-Nouri could see the Old Gold combatting interest in the Algeria international next summer, emphasising the importance of being able to rely on Bueno’s return to the club.
A firm eye will be kept on the defender’s progression in the Netherlands, with the opportunity at Feyenoord having the chance to open a key role for Bueno in the near future at Wolves.
Be the first to comment