Wolves turned down interest from Newcastle United in Max Kilman and Conor Coady back in January, but summer exits for the pair seemingly aren’t being ruled out.

The Lowdown: Influential pair

Kilman and Coady, valued at £14.4m and £22.5m respectively by Transfermarkt, have arguably been two of the Old Gold’s standout players this season, proving to be models of defensive consistency in the Premier League.

The centre-back duo have started 64 league matches between them, thriving in a back-three alongside Romain Saiss and ensuring that only 32 goals have been conceded in 34 matches.

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However, they could both be in demand in the summer transfer window, and a fresh claim suggests that they could already have been playing their football elsewhere in the Premier League by now.

The Latest: Spiers makes Newcastle claim

Writing for The Athletic, reliable journalist Tim Spiers claimed that Newcastle were keen on signing the two Wolves defenders in January in order to aid the relegation battle in which they found themselves at the time.

Instead, both players ended up staying put at Wolves, although it is insinuated that the Magpies’ interest could return at the end of the season.

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Spiers wrote: ‘Newcastle are the biggest transfer curveball the Premier League has experienced in some time and Wolves, like everyone else in the league, are distinctly aware of the money the Geordies’ new owners can now offer to try to prise clubs’ star assets away.

‘Newcastle have already had an influence on Wolves’ business; it is believed they made inquiries for Kilman and Coady in January, tried to sign Botman and did sign Bruno Guimaraes of Lyon, a player Wolves had been courting.’

The Verdict: Summer exits on the cards?

Newcastle’s new-found wealth immediately makes them a more interesting proposition to players, given the wages the club are now able to offer.

For that reason, their interest in Kilman and Coady is undoubtedly concerning from a Wolves perspective, with Bruno Lage surely desperate to keep hold of both in order to ensure that the Old Gold kick on again next season.

While it would be a surprise if both players were to leave, it is easier to envisage a scenario where one of their heads is turned, with club captain Coady perhaps feeling like he needs a fresh challenge in his peak years, following 313 appearances at Molineux for the 29-year-old.

Meanwhile, Kilman has been described as ‘outstanding’ by the skipper, and it would be a huge blow to lose him considering how much trust Lage places in him to start virtually every week.

In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign one Premier League player this summer. Read more here.