Wolves’ search for a new striker in January was ultimately unsuccessful – but club officials may now be glad they did not sign Hugo Ekitike if latest reports are to be believed.
Gary O’Neil wanted a new centre-forward last month, and had initially felt confident that he’d get one.
But with time running out, he then suggested that the club’s financial situation was still making life difficult, with two deals apparently no longer doable.
There were late pushes for Yuri Alberto from Corinthians and Armando Broja of Chelsea, but Wolves finished the window with no new number nine.
Another player the club had an interest in was Hugo Ekitike – but a new report today may suggest he isn’t someone Wolves will have regrets over.
Report claims new Eintracht Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitike has fitness problems, after Wolves showed interest
Ekitike was named as a potential target for Wolves fairly on in the window, with the young striker having been deemed surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain.
Ekitike was targeted by a few clubs, and was very keen to leave the Parc des Princes after a torrid first half of the season.
In the end, it was Eintracht who won the race for the forward and not Wolves.
It is unclear if Wolves made an approach, or whether he was one of the two players O’Neil was referring to when he spoke about the club’s struggles in the market.
But several outlets did report Wolves’ interest.
Bild (via Foot Mercato) have reported today that Ekitike has actually already caused a little bit of concern at his new club – because he is severely lacking fitness.
Apparently, the initial feedback on the player has not been positive. In his first training session, he showed ‘muscular problems’. In order to avoid injury, ‘he can’t play much at the moment’, and won’t be in Eintracht’s squad to face Bochum this weekend.
Ekitike made his debut for Eintracht last weekend in the game with Koln, playing just 13 minutes.
Wolves better off without
If it’s true that the ‘very special’ Ekitike has concerning levels of fitness at the moment then Wolves need not have any regrets about signing him.
If anyone was going to come in in January, it needed to be someone who could hit the ground running straight away.
It does not really sound from Foot Mercato’s report that Ekitike will be finding his best level any time soon, and it will be interesting to see what point he does, and if he does.
So Gary O’Neil will press ahead with his speedy trio of Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan, with young Nathan Fraser in reserve.
Fraser had been lined up for a loan move to Shrewsbury Town, but looks as though he’ll now get some decent chances to impress in the first-team.