£19m Wolves player offered to EFL clubs - Southampton, Leicester City and QPR should swoop ASAP | OneFootball

Fer Lopez is yet to make an impact at Molineux - a stint in the Championship could do him wonders

It has been a difficult start for many at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Old Gold sitting rock bottom of the Premier League, with just seven points after 21 outings.

A recent report from The Telegraph's John Percy has revealed that Wolves are in preparation mode ahead of next term, with it highly likely that Championship football will be played at Molineux for the first time since 2018.

Spanish youngster Fer Lopez is among those who have experienced a rough ride thus far, with the 21-year-old starting just twice in the league after making the £19 million switch from Celta Vigo over the summer.

Lopez is still highly rated at the club, though, and the recent report outlines that Wolves are looking to send the Spaniard to the Championship this month.

The versatile attacker, who can play in the number 10 role or wide on the right like he did for Celta Vigo, requires minutes, while Wolves would be given the chance to assess his talent in the second tier ahead of the looming drop.

With this in mind, Football League World takes a look at three Championship clubs who should be on red alert when it comes to securing his signature on loan.

Marti Cifuentes' side has struggled for consistency, picking up 10 wins, seven draws, and nine losses thus far. Though a run of results could spring Leicester back into the play-off mix, with sixth-placed Watford sitting just four points ahead.

Leicester are a side that look to dominate the ball, with the Foxes averaging 52.3% possession thus far. This is where Lopez could fit in seamlessly.

While the Spaniard is capable of playing on the right, his deft touch, intelligence, and eye for a pass could see him become the perfect link between the lines for Leicester - operating in the number 10 role.

Leicester are massively overperforming their xG of 28.8, having found the back of the net 37 times. To avoid the risk of this catching up to the foxes, an all-action creator could solve a handful of problems.

While the 229 minutes registered by Lopez is a small sample size, he has created 1.18 chances per 90, with his one assist coming in his first start against Leeds United in September. And to counteract the small sample size, Wolves themselves have created just 24 big chances in 21 outings - seven fewer than West Ham and Burnley.

In a more possession-based and front-footed side, Lopez could make a real difference and benefit Leicester as they look to climb the standings.

2 ? ? Southampton

As is the case with Leicester, Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last term and haven't found it easy upon their return to the Championship.

The Saints have recorded the highest average possession in the division (57.5%), and are known for their ball-playing qualities despite sitting 15th in the standings.

There would be more competition for places at St Mary's, with the likes of Leo Scienza, Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows, and more forming a stacked squad. The temporary arrival of Lopez would inject fresh energy and impetus into Tonda Eckert's squad.

Southampton are further away from the play-offs than Leicester, with an eight-point gap to Watford. But Lopez would be joining a side with ambitions to finish the campaign much higher than where they currently are, and a side that looks to dominate possession.

Wolves have been unable to afford more luxury-type players this term, meaning that Lopez has often been left out, with his best qualities being showcased with the ball rather than without. Wolves' average possession of 44.8% has not aided the 21-year-old's progression at all.

As is the case for most sides relegated to the Championship, the instant expectation is to be in and around the promotion race. A move to the South Coast would give Lopez the experience of playing for an underperforming heavyweight while allowing him to play in a side that could get a lot more out of him.

1 ? ? Queens Park Rangers

QPR do not have recent Premier League experience or instant top-flight ambitions, but they could be a fantastic landing spot for Lopez, should he make a Championship move this window.

Much like Leicester and Southampton, the R's find themselves in a place where they could sneak into the play-offs, with Julien Stephan's side sitting three points away from Watford. And with the tight nature of this year's division in mind, many sides will be looking to find the marginal gains until May - Lopez could provide this.

Stephan himself has a remarkable record with younger players, having kick-started the professional careers of Eduardo Camavinga, Jeremy Doku, Desire Doue and more, while he has worked with the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha.

His desire to mould younger talents has also been showcased at Loftus Road, with Stephan fielding the fourth-youngest starting XI of all Championship clubs this term in the 1-1 draw against Preston back in August, with an average age of 23.8.

The R's aren't as dominant with the ball as the aforementioned sides, with an average possession stat of 46.8% - though crucially, they have netted the same number of goals (38) as Southampton, and one more than Leicester (37).

Lopez would get the chance to work with a manager renowned for his development work, and he would fit into the young Loftus Road group seamlessly.