‘Wolves’ and ‘Champions League’ are seldom spoken in the same sentence, but that isn’t true for one player. Not only did he come close to joining the Old Gold less than a year ago, but he is now tearing it up in Europe’s biggest club competition.
Vitor Pereira enjoyed a busy January transfer window. Wolves signed Emmanuel Agbadou at the start of the window and added Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga on Deadline Day.
And while this most recent window appears to be a success, their one 12 months earlier can’t be viewed the same way.
Wolves will regret missing out on Serhou Guirassy
Wolves were big admirers of Serhou Guirassy last year. Former manager Gary O’Neil had scouts watching Guirassy while he was at Stuttgart.
A release clause of just £15.2 million made him an even more attractive option, but despite tracking him for months, Wolves failed to land the 28-year-old.
Following months of speculation, Guirassy eventually moved to Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Wolves moved on to other targets and ended up agreeing a deal to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo.
The Norwegian forward arrived on loan with an option to buy worth £23 million. The terms of Strand Larsen’s loan buy option was based on a number of appearances — a clause that has now been triggered.
European domination
Unlike Wolves, Guirassy’s decision to move to the Black and Yellows is one he won’t regret. The Guinea international is having the season of his life with Dortmund.
Netting 10 goals in the Champions League already this season, including one against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night, Guirassy is the competition’s leading goalscorer.
The forward’s prolific record puts him ahead of some big names, including Robert Lewandowski (9), Raphinha (8), Erling Haaland (8) and Vini Junior (7).
Wolves’ decision to sign Strand Larsen isn’t necessarily a bad one, but looking at Guirassy and his form this season, as well as how little he would’ve cost, suggests the Old Gold could have had a better number nine than the one currently on their books.