Wolves may have a clinical striker in their ranks now, but in 2022, they could have signed someone who is now worth £60 million.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s first campaign at Molineux was a resounding success. The towering Norwegian plundered 14 Premier League goals, only trailing Matheus Cunha by one.
Cunha has since joined Manchester United for £62.5 million, with the responsibility falling at the feet of the 25-year-old next term.
Wolves have been linked with Yuri Alberto as a possible replacement for their talisman, but in a parallel universe, Vitor Pereira could have had a forward in his squad who is now worth £60 million.
Joao Pedro is now worth £60 million after Wolves tried to sign him in 2022
For their first couple of years back in the Premier League, Raul Jimenez was the go-to man in front of goal. But following his career-threatening skull injury in November 2020, the Mexican’s goalscoring powers waned.
Jimenez only netted six goals during the 2021/22 campaign, and with Bruno Lage looking for a player to support him up top, Wolves tried to sign Joao Pedro in August 2022.
A report from 90min claimed that the Wanderers joined Newcastle United, Everton, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in the race to sign him.
Watford were at risk of losing their talented Brazilian forward following their relegation, but despite all the interest in his services, the Hornets somehow kept hold of him for their first season back in the Championship.
Pedro fired 11 goals in the second tier before Brighton swooped in with a £30 million move in the summer of 2023. Since then, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength, and now he’s wanted by Chelsea and Newcastle United after producing 17 goal involvements in 2024/25.
According to Chronicle Live, the Seagulls value Pedro at £60 million, double what they paid two years ago, with the realisation that could have been Wolves.
Wolves signed Goncalo Guedes for £27.5 million in the same month
Wolves’ ability to find a good striker has been hit and miss. Flops such as Patrick Cutrone and Fabio Silva have set the club back financially while the likes of Jimenez and Strand Larsen have been worth their weight in gold.
Unfortunately, Wolves £27.5 million capture of Goncalo Guedes in August 2022 falls into the former category, with the Portuguese forward struggling to hit the heights in Wolverhampton.
The 28-year-old has only scored seven goals in 51 appearances for the Wanderers, which demonstrates how difficult he’s found moving from La Liga.
Guedes has interest from Flamengo this summer, and is likely to leave, with Wolves fans perhaps wishing they spent £30 million on Pedro instead.