Wolves backed to beat Leeds United to ‘amazing signing’ | OneFootball

Wolves face a battle to sign Jordan James from Rennes, with Atalanta and Leeds United also tracking the midfielder.

Wolves have made some positive moves as they look to build a team that can win promotion to the Premier League next season.

In a surprising development, midfielder Andre agreed a new long-term contract, whilst Wanderers have also reached a verbal agreement with Kieran Trippier on an initial two-year deal.

Clearly, a lot more business needs to be done, but it is a good start for the club, who are facing scrutiny from supporters due to the decline in recent years.

Jordan James would be a huge signing for Wolves

The recruitment team are still working on new additions to help Rob Edwards’ squad, and it has been reported that Jordan James is a target.

The midfielder was one of few bright spots for Leicester as they were relegated from the Championship last season, with James scoring 11 goals in 34 games, and many believe the Foxes would’ve survived if he hadn’t missed eight league games in 2026 through injury, with the team failing to win any of those.

Therefore, his quality is clear to see, and whilst the 21-year-old has returned to parent club Rennes, another move could be on the cards.

However, Wolves won’t have a clear run at the Welsh international, as Leeds United and Atalanta are among the clubs tracking James.

Obviously, the chance to play in the Premier League or in Europe may appeal to James, and when quizzed by FLW on whether he is a realistic option for the club, Wolves fan pundit Thomas Woodhall acknowledged it would be difficult, but he explained one key reason that could work in Wanderers’ favour.

“This would be an amazing signing for Wolves.

“James would be at the top of a lot of people’s shopping list. I know a lot of fans who are saying he’d be one of the first players to go out and sign.

“It will be hard to get him with those clubs mentioned. Atalanta are in Europe, and have been a lot over the years, and we obviously can’t offer that. Leeds can offer Premier League football, and are a big club, so it’s the Championship versus the Premier League or European football.

“So, it will be a tough task to get him, but there are two factors that could sway it.

“James did come through at Blues, so geographically that could play a part, as he’s a local-ish lad. Also, game time. It’s not clear whether he would start every week for the other two at a higher level.

“It will be tough, but he'll play every week. He’s just had a season in the Championship, so he knows what it’s about, he knows what he is capable of, and even with Kieran Trippier agreeing to join, that could also sway him.

“Whilst Wolves are not currently a Premier League club, all being well, if he joins Trippier, we’d be getting a serious team together. If he buys into the project, there is a chance, but most players would go and sign for a Premier League club or go into Europe.

“With Atalanta, he has previously been in France, so that could either show that going abroad doesn’t faze him, or he will feel he has already gone down that road, so he might not want to relocate again.”

Jordan James could flourish as a key player at Wolves

At 21, James is at a critical period in his career, and there is a strong argument to say that Wolves would be the ideal club for him at this stage of his development.

There are many examples of talented younger players who join clubs at a higher level and spend so much time on the bench that their career stalls, and that has to be the fear for James.

Leeds were excellent this year, and Ethan Ampadu is probably the best player at Elland Road, who will play every week. So, that leaves one or two places in the XI, and it’s hard to see how James plays regularly with the likes of Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff the other options for Daniel Farke.

It’s a similar story at Atalanta, who have a lot of quality in midfield, and there’s the added impact of learning a new language and adapting to a new league.

So, if James isn’t going to play regularly there, joining Wolves, where he will be in the XI every week, could be the perfect match.

Edwards is desperate for a player with his energy, drive and goalscoring ability in midfield, and, if James did join, many would expect Wolves to win promotion.

Then, in 12 months time, he could be in the Premier League at a club where he is an influential figure, and James will have benefited from another year playing week in, week out.

Of course, we know that money talks, and James may back himself to break into the XI of teams at the highest level. But, from a football perspective, Wolves