Wolves transfer twist emerges as new claim made on ex-Monaco man | OneFootball

Wolves were reportedly in talks to sign Yllan Okou in the summer and have not given up their pursuit of the defender

Wolves were in advanced talks to sign defender Yllan Okou in the summer, and have not given up their interest in a deal.

According to Sky Sports in Europe, the Old Gold were keen on a deal to sign the 23-year-old, but were unable to free up space in their squad to complete a deal.

The Championship side were keen to bolster their options at the back, with the team struggling defensively so far under Cesar Peixoto.

The Midlands outfit completed a permanent deal for Ladislav Krejci, but otherwise did not add any fresh centre-back options in the summer.

Santiago Bueno’s future remains up in the air, with the 27-year-old yet to play a single minute in the league so far this season.

The defender’s departure is expected, with the transfer window still open for another few hours in countries like Turkey, and the Saudi Arabian market remaining open until 12 October.

Wolves eye Yllan Okou deal

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It’s believed that Wolves still retain their interest in sealing a deal for La Louviere’s Okou, even with the transfer window now closed.

The Old Gold will have to wait until 1 January to conduct any more transfer business, but it’s understood that they could go back in for the defender at some stage.

It’s been claimed that the 23-year-old had offers from multiple eastern European teams competing in UEFA competitions this season.

However, Wolves were reportedly the most persistent in seeking a deal for the centre-back, and were unable to strike an agreement.

The Championship side are also in talks to add Bertrand Traore to their squad, with the winger able to make the switch to Molineux due to being a free agent at the moment.

The former Sunderland winger is expected to take up Bueno’s spot in the 25-man squad, provided the defender is sold.

Yllan Okou’s Belgian Pro League experience

Okou made the switch to Belgian side La Louviere in the 2025 summer transfer window, signing from French club Bastia.

The centre-back had spent a season on loan at Hellas Verona before moving to Belgium, making just one appearance during his time in Serie A.

But he cemented himself as a key part of the first squad at La Louviere, making 33 appearances in the Pro League last season, with the team coming 15th in the table.

He’s started four of their opening five fixtures this campaign, with the team failing to win in the league in 2026/27.

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Wolves will need to bolster their defence in January

Wolves have already conceded 10 goals from their opening five games, and have yet to keep a clean sheet in the league.

So it’s clear the Peixoto needs better quality in his backline, as the club will struggle to compete for promotion if they keep leaking goals at this rate.

Okou didn’t make much of an impact at a Ligue 1 or Serie A level, but his performances in the Belgian Pro League and Ligue 2 indicate he could be of use for the Midlands outfit.

He is strong in the air, and his rate of 4.02 recoveries per 90 in the league last season, as well as a rate of being dribbled past just 0.10 times each game indicates he is a tough operator (all stats from Fotmob).