Wolves have exceeded expectations and have performed with a swagger that established veterans of the Premier League such as Everton and West Ham would come to expect.
After storming to the Championship title last season, Wolves invested heavily in the summer with several Portuguese imports arriving thanks to the tight-knit relationship between Jorge Mendes and the club.
You would be forgiven if you thought they would struggle as Fulham have shown this season.
Still, Wolves are navigating themselves towards European qualification and obliterating the main objective of ensuring safety.
Wolverhampton Wanderers ended the summer with 11 new signings, one of which was midfielder Leander Dendoncker.
The Belgian international has been widely tipped to join a Champions League club for several seasons.
He was also close to joining a Premier League rival when a deadline-day move to West Ham was mooted in the 2018 January transfer window.
The move ultimately failed to materialise, but West Ham’s loss was Wolves’ gain.
A move to Molineux came late in the summer as the midfielder arrived on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer for £12m.
A bargain in the current market climate, Dendoncker’s move is a testament to Wolves’ rise into the Premier League and their European ambitions for the immediate and long-term future of the club.
At 23 years old, Dendoncker is yet to fulfil his true potential.
He has shown enough promise for Wolves to take a gamble on the Belgian and transform him into a world-class player.
A natural defensive midfielder, he is equally adept at centre-back and possesses an incredible ability to play out from the back.
Composed on the ball, his control is a joy to watch as he glides through the midfield and breaks opposition lines with his wide range of passing.
The versatile midfielder has an incredible work-rate and strength, making him a physical presence in both boxes.
In this football analysis, we will examine the strengths and qualities Leander Dendoncker brings to this Wolves team and how he combines defensive solidarity and creative playmaking ability.
Leander Dendoncker: Midfield lynchpin
Leander Dendoncker has dominated midfields since his emergence through the Anderlecht academy with his sturdy frame and physicality.
The midfielder possesses incredible stamina and can churn out consistent performances for 90 minutes.
Please take the 2016/17 season, where he played all 40 league games and a total of 57 in all competitions.
He isnt blessed with speed, but relies on excellent positioning and adept tackling to win back possession.
He quietly goes about his job whilst allowing others to flourish around him, giving the team a defensive base.
In recent weeks, Dendoncker’s influence has been vital in keeping Wolves unbeaten in their last six since their 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
He occupies the half-spaces, winning tackles to contribute effectively to Wolves’ tactical ethos.
This commitment supports the wing-backs by allowing them to cause damage going forward.
They employ a 3-5-2 formation, making the midfield and defence’s positioning extremely important.
The full-backs tend to join the forwards, leaving the two defensive midfielders to form part of the defensive unit.
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