Before the transfer window, Alex Scott of Bristol City seemed Wolves’ top target however financial restrictions have made that not possible.
Wolves have been left in a financial crisis which Julen Lopetegui stated was “bad news” for him.
In an interview with Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, Lopetegui discussed the issues at hand.
When asked whether Wolves have the finances to buy new players, he said: “In May we started talking about the new situation. Unfortunately the situation was real, and bad news for me, of course.
“After Plan A, we tried to think about players signing. But it’s true at the moment we can’t do Plan B too. It’s true that we want to sell more players.”
He continued to explain that this will impede Old Gold’s ability to sign targets and that selling is the priority.
This comes as Raul Jimenez’s exit to Fulham is confirmed, on which the Spaniard said “It’s a pity for me that he’s gone. But it’s not under my control”.
All these reasons will play a part in the search for cheaper alternatives to their top targets, with Scott, the alternative in our opinion should come in the form of Manchester United midfielder, Hannibal Mejbri.
Why Hannibal could be the ideal alternative for Scott
Many will question Hannibal, however he has shown himself throughout his pre-season to be ready for senior elite football.
The midfielder was described as “phenomenal” last season under John Eustace at Birmingham City.
The Tunisian made 38 Championship appearances for the Blues last season while adding five assists, along with one wonderful free-kick goal.
Hannibal can play in multiple positions but is primarily a tenacious midfielder who visibly has an incredibly high ceiling.
What makes him an ideal cheap alternative for Scott, is that the two are both all-rounders who can do it all on a football field.
Hannibal despite not being recognised as a Premier League talent, could quickly become one with Lopetegui the ideal manager to get the best out of him.
Scott’s key qualities as per FBRef are; his progressive carries, successful take-ons, blocks, assists and progressive passes received.
These are the exact areas which Hannibal thrives in too, with the added bonus of his tackling and intercepting.
To make the two even more linked, Scott is listed in the top 10 similar players to Hannibal on FBRef.
How much would he cost?
Hannibal would be a fraction of the price that Scott would cost, with a current market value of just £6.8million.
While he might cost slightly more than that, it is unlikely United would ask for much more than £10m.
This due to their record of selling players for cheap, especially if a sell-on clause were to be included.
Alternatively if he were to be available on a loan, an option to buy could be implemented which might also be a great solution to Wolves’ financial situation.