In recent seasons, Wolves have had good fortune in identifying top-quality attackers to bring to the club.
Most recently, Jorgen Strand Larsen was brought in on an initial loan, which Wolves were able to make permanent for a bargain price of £23 million. His value has already more than doubled.
Matheus Cunha was a pricier purchase at over £40 million, but he too thrived at Molineux and was sold to Man United for £62.5 million this summer.
Names like Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto also spring to mind as savvy bits of recent business from Wolves, but there were a few flops sprinkled in as well.
Diego Costa joined Wolves three years ago to the day and it didn’t go to plan
When Wolves announced the arrival of Diego Costa in September 2022, it came as a surprise to most.
Costa fell out of favour at Atletico Madrid and moved to Atletico Mineiro in 2021. After one season in the Brazilian Serie A, he became available on a free transfer and Wolves took the risk.
Costa was 33 at the time and clearly towards the end of his career, but Wolves took a gamble on a player who had 52 goals in the Premier League.
By the time he left Molineux at the season’s end, that tally had risen by just one after a goal against Brentford.
Diego Costa decision was a costly mistake by Wolves
Costa was earning £100,000 per week at Wolves despite making just 16 league starts during his lacklustre spell at the club.
Then-manager Julien Lopetegui knew Costa from his time as Spain manager and was impressed by his contributions, though the numbers tell a different story.
The correct decision was obvious by the time the season wrapped up, with Costa allowed to return to Brazil.
Had Wolves attained his services just a couple of seasons prior, it could have been a successful move. But Costa’s best days were well and truly behind him by that point.
It was a learning experience for the club, who thankfully haven’t pursued a signing of that nature in the years since.