Wolves fans are hoping for a productive and efficient summer this time around – and Gary O’Neil can strike gold by completing the signing of long-term target Che Adams.
The summer of 2023 was memorable for the wrong reasons for the Molineux faithful, with financial problems contributing to a plethora of outgoings.
A host of big names like Ruben Neves, Nathan Nunes, Nathan Collins and Raul Jimenez left, with Julen Lopetegui following suit just days before the new season.
Thankfully, Wolves were able to survive relegation pretty comfortably in the end, with Gary O’Neil doing a fine job.
The 40-year-old has been pretty clear about what needs to happen this summer, and he can get things off to a great start with a move for Adams…
Southampton striker Che Adams linked with Wolves move once again
It was reported on Wednesday morning that Wolves have now begun talks with Adams about a potential move to Molineux this summer.
The player’s contract is expiring at the end of next month, and it seems he is ready to move on regardless of whether Southampton achieve promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Adams is a player Wolves have held an interest in now for quite a while. The club made a move for him last summer, and expressed interest once again in January.
For one reason or another, the club haven’t been able to land him in previous windows.
But O’Neil stands a great chance now given his contract situation.
It’s just a no-brainer – Adams is a Gary O’Neil player
In his first season at Wolves, O’Neil has shown that he likes players who are mobile in the forward positions.
In the early parts of 2023/24, he rarely diverted away from the trio of Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan and Pedro Neto, and found great success.
Wolves were scoring goals much more freely than last season, and it was a shame that they all succumbed to injury at various points towards the end.
The likes of Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic – who tend to stay in the penalty area – didn’t get many opportunities.
Breaking The Lines paint an interesting picture of Adams and suggest him as being a Gary O’Neil-type player. They said of him a few years ago: “He is more than just a functional cog in a high-pressing system, he is integral to a high-risk, high-reward style of play.
“He uses his body well to manipulate defenders and create space for himself.”
£30,000-a-week ace Adams is also known to drop deep to link up with midfielders, and this would allow people to run off him into the space he vacates.
Perhaps he would not come in to be Wolves’ starting striker next season. But if we are to assume Silva will be sold, and possibly Kalajdzic too, then he would be a great addition to the squad.
He has played 124 games in the Premier League before and this surely further increases the appeal.