Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact to sign Espanyol defender Cesar Montes this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Montesâ admission
The Mexican only made the move to the RCDE Stadium from Monterrey in January but has instantly helped Diego Martinez sure up his backline.
The Midlands outfit are long-term admirers of the 26-year-old, who has previously admitted that he thinks the Old Gold are a âgreat clubâ.
Now, Julen Lopetegui sounds keen to bring the centre-back to Molineux but is set to face competition from one of his Premier League rivals.
The Latest: Wolves make contact
According to Spanish outlet La Grada (via Sport Witness), Wolves and Nottingham Forest both âhave askedâ about the availability of Montes ahead of the upcoming window.
Wanderers have ânot increasedâ their interest as of yet with there still being several months to go, but their target does have a âŹ30m (ÂŁ26m) release clause included in his terms.
The Verdict: Ideal reinforcement
Montes has been hailed a âpowerfulâ defender by Barcelona manager Xavi, and despite Wolves already having Craig Dawson, Nathan Collins, Max Kilman and Toti as centre-back options, he would be an ideal reinforcement, especially with Kilman linked to clubs like Liverpool.
The 6 foot 3 giant currently averages 5.5 clearances and 1.8 aerial wins per game in La Liga, highlighting his physical presence at the heart of the backline (WhoScored).
Montes also knows Raul Jimenez being his international teammate for Mexico, so this existing connection could help Fosun get a deal over the line ahead of their competitors should an offer be made in the months ahead.