The Imps are being linked with a move for 21-year-old Wolves midfielder Joe Hodge, as per Darren Witcoop.
Don’t get too excited, though – we might have been name-dropped, but there’s not much chance you’ll see him in red and white. He’s currently training with Hibernian, looking at a possible loan move, just days after Wolves had reportedly agreed a deal with Huddersfield for him to go out.
Given his position, this feels like one we might have identified as a long-term Ethan Erhahon successor, but more on that later. Plenty of other elements to his overall career make him fit what we’d expect.
He came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and experienced a loan spell with Derry City. He didn’t play for Derry due to injury and left the Citizens in 2021 for Wolves. He’s made six Premier League appearances for them, as well as a handful of starts in the cups, and last season, he joined QPR on loan.
✍️ A new long-term deal for Joe Hodge.
Congratulations, Joe! 🤝
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 21, 2023
While at Loftus Road, he started four times and made four further appearances from the bench. One of his outings saw him grab a winner away at Blackburn, vital given that the Hoops only finished six points off the drop and three points ahead of Rovers.
He’s also been capped up to Under 21 level with Ireland, so there’s a lot in his immediate career that fits our recruitment strategy for young players. However, it still feels like a reach to suggest we were in for him – he wouldn’t be coming here to play second fiddle to Erhahon, nor would he replace our star man, so I wonder if perhaps he was on a list of players considered as a possible replacement if the worst happens.
He’s not only a holding midfielder, but can play anywhere in the centre of the park, but that still wouldn’t put him on our immediate radar, as we’re more than stacked in there. The only player we may need for the squad in midfield would be an Erhahon replacement if that seven-figure bid comes in.