Conor Coady in line for new Wolves contract with defender also on Gareth Southgate's England radar

Conor Coady of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates at full-time
Coady has impressed in a three-man defence and is likely to be rewarded Credit: Getty Images

Wolverhampton Wanderers are poised to open contract talks with captain Conor Coady, who is on Gareth Southgate’s radar for an England call-up.

Coady is in line for a new deal after making a huge impression in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo.

The defender’s wages were bumped up to around £36,000 a week after promotion from the Championship but Wolves are ready to start negotiations over improved terms later this month.

A former Liverpool trainee, Coady has proven a key performer in Wolves’s three-man defence and Southgate attended the recent FA Cup tie against Jurgen Klopp’s team at Molineux to watch him.

Coady, 25, is in contention for March’s European qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro and will also be rewarded by Wolves for his emerging reputation.

It is understood talks will begin in the next few weeks, with Coady’s current deal running out in another two years.

Wolves are also working on new signings this month, with Nuno lining up a surprise move for Stoke defender Moritz Bauer.

Moritz Bauer looks dejected
Moritz Bauer could be Premier League-bound with Wolves interested Credit:  Reuters

Nuno is targeting a right-back this month to compete with Matt Doherty and Wolves are considering a bid to sign Bauer on loan.

Bauer was a £4m signing from Rubin Kazan in January last year but has not featured for Stoke since September after falling out of favour with former manager Gary Rowett.

New Stoke manager Nathan Jones has pledged to give his players a clean slate but Wolves have identified Bauer as a potential signing and can offer Premier League football.

Wolves face Manchester City on Monday determined to extend their remarkable record against the top six.

Nuno has drawn with City, Manchester United and Arsenal, and beaten Spurs and Chelsea already this season.

“We don’t go onto the pitch scared of anything, we know that we have to compete,” said the Wolves head coach.

“You cannot be scared or frightened of nothing, you just have to be ready for what you have in front of you.

“We don’t fear them because we believe that if we prepare ourselves very well, we are able to compete. The result is another thing, but it’s how our mentality is, how we prepare ourselves, and we prepare with no fear.

“We prepare ourselves with motivation, we prepare ourselves with the illusion that we can, that we have to fight and try in every game.”

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