Wolves Premier League campaign draws to a close this weekend and Gary O’Neil will be turning his attention to the summer transfer window.
Wolves travel to Anfield aiming to spoil Jurgen Klopp’s party on Sunday but once the dust settles on their campaign, Gary O’Neil will get to business in the window.
O’Neil arrived during a difficult period, with the Old Gold expected to fight relegation following Julen Lopetegui’s departure. In truth, the Wanderers have never been in threat of going down and instead, made a challenge towards Europe.
That has since petered out with injuries decimating a lacklustre squad and VAR decisions costing them invaluable points, but as they enter summer, the Wolves manager will be looking to strengthen his pack.
Last week, the 41-year-old allayed fears that the club may need to sell some of their star assets before buying, though that hasn’t stopped links to big-money signings, with the Molineux-based side eyeing up a new striker.
Wolves keen on Chelsea striker Armando Broja
Wolves supporters will be familiar with the name Armando Broja as O’Neil tried to loan him from Chelsea in January.
The 22-year-old instead joined Fulham, but the Albanian striker may regret that decision as he’s not made a start with each of his eight appearances coming from the bench.
Broja would have been guaranteed more starts at Wolves, particularly during their injury crisis, and it appears they’re still trying to lure him from Stamford Bridge.
According to GIVEMESPORT, O’Neil will be keen on capturing Broja but only if Chelsea lower their £35 million valuation.
Interest in the Blues forward comes after the news of Che Adams, who the club are confident of signing on a free transfer this summer.
Gary O’Neil can improve Armando Broja but he isn’t the answer
When O’Neil arrived at Molineux last August, many had him down as doomed from minute one as he inherited a squad that crawled to Premier League survival.
However, the former Bournemouth manager demonstrated that there is plenty of talent in this squad, it just needed a special coach to unlock it.
Forward Matheus Cunha has benefitted since O’Neil’s arrival, with the Brazilian netting 12 goals and supplying seven assists in 31 top-flight appearances.
Broja is in a similar position that Cunha found himself in; devoid of confidence and needing a manager to believe in his goalscoring ability.
After all, Mauricio Pochettino does think he has “massive potential” and has likened his situation to Harry Kane, who was loaned from pillar to post in the early stages of his Tottenham career.
Unlike the English goal machine – who saw his scoring talents explode into life under Pochettino – the “amazing” Broja is still waiting for that to happen.
He’s scored just eight goals in 66 top-flight appearances, and although a lot of them were from the bench, such a return doesn’t warrant the price tag Chelsea have placed on him.
O’Neil may be able to improve him but on the evidence of his career so far, he isn’t the man to challenge Hwang Hee-Chan and Cunha for that starting berth.