Wolves transfer target learning English – Ben Wrigglesworth sent for player

Wolves are receiving encouragement regarding a transfer for Internacional de Bogotá’s Dereck Moncada. 

Ricardo Valiño, the Colombian club’s manager, has revealed the 18-year-old has been learning English.

This should please Wolves, who are aiming to bring him to Molineux in the summer. 

At the start of this month, Sport Witness relayed news that the Premier League side want to sign him. Wolves head of scouting Ben Wrigglesworth made a trip to Spain to watch him live in action in Honduras’ friendly against Peru during the last international break.

His grandfather, Mario, shared a picture with the English club’s official on social media.

Moncado joined Internacional de Bogotá in January, after ending his time with Honduran side CD Olimpia. His rapid rise in Colombia has caught the transfer attention of Wolves and other clubs.

His stats this year are as follows:

• Appearances: 13
• Starts: 12
• Total minutes: 855
• Minutes per game: 66
• Goals: 5
• Assists: 1
• Expected Goals: 0.82
• Expected Assists: 0.46
• Goal conversion: 20%

Manager praising Wolves transfer target

Diez in Honduras had a detailed chat with Internacional de Bogotá manager Ricardo Valiño to mainly discuss about Dereck Moncada.

With Wolves among his transfer suitors, the coach revealed what he does to make sure the player doesn’t lose focus.

“I often tell him stories about players I’ve coached, like Pablo Zavaleta, Henry Martin, and the Funes Mori twins, who were the same age as him, so he can stay calm and not get carried away by rumours about who wants him,” he said.

“Also, I tell him to take care of himself because he goes to the gym every afternoon. He has a diet plan from a nutritionist, and he has preventative care with the physiotherapists, all of that is invisible training.”

When asked about the secret to youngster’s success, the manager reveals he’s learning English.

“First, his talent. Second, at 18, he’s a true professional. He’s the first to arrive at training. We start at 10am, and he gets here at 8am. He’s the one who stays to do the specific drills for strikers, and he’s studying English,” Valiño explained.

“It might sound unbelievable what I’m saying because it’s personal, but it speaks volumes about a true professional. That’s the secret to success: hard work. If you have talent, you have to add effort and sacrifice, and that’s what it’s all about every single day.”

Unsure of long-term future

The South American club’s manager isn’t aware of details of the clubs that are looking at him.

Meanwhile, Diez specifically quizzed Valiño whether Moncada would be at the club for long.

Responding to that, he added: “No, unfortunately not. If it were up to me, I hope so. And if it’s for his benefit and his future, then yes, I hope so too. May God’s will be done for him; may He have what He needs in his path.”

Our take: Wolves need to make decisive push

Ricardo Valiño’s latest comments would be a boost for Wolves, to try and sign Dereck Moncada in the summer.

The Premier League side are now bottom of the table and likely to be relegated. It’s not clear whether the Honduran would be open to playing in the Championship.

Either way, Wolves need to make transfer advances, if they wish to secure his services.