The January transfer window is not too far away now and Wolves will be in the market for new players.
Gary O’Neil has enjoyed a really good start to life at Molineux, having come in just days before the start of the new season as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement.
Everything pointed to Wolves really struggling; key players had left and O’Neil had nowhere near the same level of managerial experience as his predecessor.
But it’s been a really promising start all things considered, with O’Neil proving his tactical prowess early doors and the players all buying into him.
O’Neil has already spoken about the need to strengthen the squad though, and a report has now shared the positions that will come into focus…
Wolves to target two forwards in January
Wolves-supporting journalist Johnny Phillips, who is well connected at Molineux, has penned a new column in the Express & Star, outlining what the club may be getting up to in January.
He has suggested there are two positions that Wolves will address in the next transfer window.
He writes: “His squad will not be dramatically strengthened in January, with very little money available.
“The recruitment department is working on bringing in at least two forward players – a central striker and a winger.”
He goes on to talk about how coaches at Wolves are unconvinced about Fabio Silva, who has struggled for minutes this term, and there is a suggestion that he could perhaps depart on loan.
It was previously reported that O’Neil would make an out-and-out number nine his main priority in January, so he can get Matheus Cunha to play more of a free role.
Interestingly, Phillips adds in his column that a couple of options from abroad are being ‘seriously considered’ at the moment.
Two more forwards are indeed required at Wolves
Unless Silva starts to prove himself in the coming weeks, Wolves must surely go out and sign a new striker in January, because Cunha isn’t the clinical finisher O’Neil needs him to be, and there are still question marks over Sasa Kalajdzic’s ability to play a lot of games consecutively.
There is also a need for a new wide player. At the moment, Wolves only really have Hwang Hee-chan, Pedro Neto and Pablo Sarabia.
Youngster Enso Gonzalez is still some way off becoming a genuine first-team option, and Rayan Ait-Nouri – while very good going forward – is not a natural winger.
Hwang will be going to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup with South Korea in January and could miss a handful of games, so the need for further cover is there.