Wolves’ Craig Dawson in conversations with club about possible contract notice

Wolves Defender Craig Dawson is in conversations with the club about a possible termination of his contract after the head coach Varn Pereira told the veteran that he is not counting in his plans.

Pereira confirmed in today’s press conference before the match that he will not be able to find space for Dawson, 34, in his future match day troops after Wolves signed Burkina Faso International Center-Back Nasser Djiga on the day of transfer.

Djiga’s arrival from Crvena Zvezda in Serbia leaves Dawson as Wolves’ sixth election central defender behind another January arrival, Emmanuel Agbadou, Matt Doherty, Toti, Djiga and Santiago Bueno in the match for places in Pereira’s favorite back three.

Dawson’s options are now limited. Because he was registered with Wolves when the window closed Monday, he would not be able to sign for another English club until the summer window opens, even if his contract is ‘paid’.

He could still sign for a club in a country where the window remains open, such as Turkey or the United States, or simply leave wolves and start exploring his options for summer.

Pereira said: “I gave the information in advance to the club that if we brought another center back, I wouldn’t have room for Craig in the troop.

“This is something I was talking to the club for a long time. I had a conversation with the player and I respect the player a lot. I respect his career.

“But his profile is not the profile that I am looking for to build the play that I want to build.

“It’s just about profile. I talked to the player and I explained the grounds and it is now something that the club has to solve.

“I think he listened to me, and as a coach I have to be honest with the players. I have to say what I think, because for a player with his career, being here without playing, just training, it’s not a good situation.

“It’s a question that he has to solve between him and the club.”

Dawson does not contain in manager Vitor Pereira’s plans. (Photo of Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

Dawson signed for Wolves in January 2023 and played an important role in helping Christmas Lopetegui keep them in the Premier League before becoming a regular starter for Lopetegui’s successor, Gary O’Neil.

He has made 57 Premier League appearances for Wolves, but has started only one start for Pereira in 2-2 draw at Tottenham in December, making two additional appearances as a late replacement.

Meanwhile, Pereira has confirmed that Austria striker Sasa Kalajdzic will be left out by Wolves ’25 man Premier League team in the second half of the season as he continues to recover after the third front cruciate ligament in his career.

The signings of Djiga, Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi in the January window have left Wolves with a too many non-home-induced players to be accommodated in the troop.

The club started the season with their maximum quota, but relieved Mario Lemina to Galatasaray this week.

Wolves have also removed Yerson Mosquera, which has been excluded for the rest of the season through injury.

While Kalajdzic could be available to play before the campaign end, it thought he would be ready in time to play a significant role.

“Sasa has had a serious injury,” Pereira said. “I can’t put pressure on because I believe in this moment in his career, he has to recover completely from the injury.

“I think he needs time, the right time, to recover step by step, don’t push, because if he has another problem, it will be a disaster for his career.

“I must respect the information from the medical department. I can’t push a player to play if he has a problem and if the player’s future is on the table. “

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What marshall munetsi and nasser djiga brings to wolves

(Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)