CONFIRMED: Sky Journalist Confirms Wolves Have Now Held First Round Of Talks To Sign 27-yr-old Switzerland Defender As Max Kilman Replacement, Player Would Only Cost £8.5m

Wolves have held discussions over Nico Elvedi, who has a €10m release clause expiring at the end of July.

Elvedi, a versatile defender, has been identified as a Max Kilman replacement.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have held initial talks over the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi, who has a €10m (£8.6m) release clause valid until the end of July, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Elvedi made 33 appearances for Gladbach last season, and featured for Switzerland in their Euro 2024 run to the quarter-final. The 27-year-old is attracting interest from a host of clubs as they consider activating his modest release clause, with Wolves reportedly frontrunners in the race to land his signature.

The West Midlanders are in the market for a central defender who can also operate at right-back, with Max Kilman leaving the club for West Ham in a £40m deal, and both Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty entering the latter stages of their respective careers. Sky Sports’ Plettenberg has revealed that Gary O’Neil’s side are in talks with the player’s club and representatives as they look to initiate the deal.

Emerging through the academy at FC Zurich, Elvedi completed a switch to Borussia Monchengladbach in 2015 in a €4m (£3.4m) deal. Since then, the versatile defender has made 303 appearances for the west German club, as well as becoming a regular in the Switzerland national team.

The 6’2 man has been capped 53 times by the Rossocrociati, and has been described as “one of the most accomplished defenders in the Bundesliga”. Writing on X, German reporter Plettenberg provided an update regarding the player’s future at Gladbach:

O’Neil is understood to be an admirer of Elvedi, and is attracted to his ability to play as both a wide defender and at the heart of a backline. Wolves are contemplating triggering the release clause, although may wait until August when Gladbach could potentially drop the price for the player.

Elvedi would likely replace Kilman in O’Neil’s ensemble, joining a centre-back cohort consisting of the likes of Toti Gomes, Craig Dawson and Santiago Bueno.

While O’Neil will be looking to bolster his squad that surprised many last season by finishing 14th in the Premier League and comfortably avoiding relegation.