We look are three players that Gary O’Neil needs to look to sign this month if Wolves are to achieve European football this season.
O’Neil has done a fantastic job in the first half of the season. Despite few fans being enthusiastic about this campaign, the club managed to finish 2023 11th in the Premier League table.
This is despite multiple departures of long-term players at Wolves in the summer including Adama Traore and Ruben Neves.
The manager is also playing some seriously attractive football and a real togetherness has returned to the Molineux club once again.
This was most evident in the 1-1 draw against Brentford in the FA Cup. Despite the visitors being 1-0 down with 10 players at half-time, the squad never gave up and earned themselves a replay thanks to a Tommy Doyle strike.
With Premier League football now closing in once again after the winter break, Wolves find themselves just three points off the European places.
If the club wants to take advantage of this position and build on it in 2024, here are three players they need to bring in this January to make these dreams a reality.
Jack Clarke
The Sunderland winger has been on fire so far this season. Jack Clarke has found the back of the net 13 times this season as well as collected two assists.
Wolves are low in the winger department this season, with only Pedro Neto, Pablo Sarabia and Hwang Hee-Chan presenting themselves as first-team options this season.
To make matters worse, Neto has been constantly linked away due to his fantastic form so far this season.
Ideally, O’Neil will want to bring in someone in case the Portuguese international potentially leaves.
Clarke would be the perfect as his form and age combined present the club with a great option out wide.
Wolves have been linked with Clarke earlier in the window and could well be available for around £15 million.
Hugo Ekitike
Another player linked this month, Hugo Ekitike would present an exciting option up front for Wolves if he came in.
The striker has struggled for game time as French giants PSG since signing for the club in 2022.
The 21-year-old clearly has plenty of potential after he found the back of the net 10 times for top-tier side Reims in France in the 2021/22 season despite his young age.
Wolves have been looking for a striker for many years since Raul Jimenez’s form declined after his head injury.
Many players have failed to step up to the role including Fabio Silva and Willian Jose. However, Ekitike could well be the answer O’Neil is looking for.
The striker is apparently being allowed to leave this year on loan or on a permanent deal. O’Neil should do everything in his power to get the deal done and give his side more options up top.
Victor Nelsson
A centre-back is needed at Wolves. Despite the form of multiple players in the backline, O’Neil’s men have only kept four clean sheets in all competitions this season.
On top of this, Max Kilman is continually linked away while his partner-in-crime, Craig Dawson, isn’t getting any younger.
Nelsson offers a solution to both of these problems. The defender is an experienced international with 10 caps for Denmark and is only 25 years old.
The club were linked to him late in 2023 but nothing has seemingly materialised just yet.
With Nelsson playing his football for Turkish side Galatasaray, he may well be tempted over to play Premier League football under O’Neil in the second half of the season.