After last season’s horror show of a summer transfer window leading to our relegation, the higher ups at Wolves will be hoping that this summer’s business will be looked upon far more favourably in an effort to return the club back to the promised land. Once again, I am back to grade our transfers, both incoming and outgoing, to offer my opinion on how well our business has gone. However, given I graded Jackson Tchatchoua an “A” last year with the comment “the best purchase that we have made this summer”, I am not holding my opinion too highly.
Incomings
Kieran Trippier (Free Transfer) – A*
What other grade could this signing possibly be? Homegrown. Tick. Born leader with experience. Tick. Far too good for the level. Tick. I dare say that England’s Kieran Trippier is on high wages for a Championship club but that is one of the only negatives I can think of. Picked up an unfortunate injury in our opener to Blackburn but think throughout the season he will prove to be the best right-back in the league.
Raúl Jiménez (Free Transfer) – A*
Return of the king. The obvious reasons for coming back to the club aside, a Championship club has no business signing a striker who scored double-digits in back-to-back seasons for a Premier League club. Has already started his second stint in Old Gold on fire and I for one cannot wait to see him win the Golden Boot for the division. Here’s to many more of Si Senor this season.
Rafiki Saïd (€9 million) – B
A fairly low risk transfer to provide competition on the left for Mané, the Comoros born winger had a very solid season over in Belgium last season with 8 goals and 5 assists. Unfortunately, yet to play a competitive game in a Wolves shirt after an injury in pre-season, there is little to judge him on other than last season. Regardless, looks to be a good profile out on the left wing.
Jordan James (€2 million loan fee with €10 million option to buy) – A
Another move that appears to be a real coup with minimal downside. Signing last season’s Championship Young Player of the Year on loan to complete what is, in my opinion, the best midfield trio in the league is some signing. Enjoyed a phenomenal season in a Leicester team in meltdown last year, contributing well in both goals and assists and has already scored on his Molineux debut against Stoke. Even if it doesn’t work out which is unlikely, we don’t have to sign him. Great deal.
John Ruddy (Free Transfer) – A
Another familiar face through the door this summer, to be the replacement for Dan Bentley as the ever-loved third choice goalkeeper, it is somewhat hard to grade. However, he provides the best know how out of anyone on what it takes to win the Championship, having done it almost 8 years ago under the guidance of Nuno as we won it at a canter. As is the theme with many signings so far, another homegrown player to help with squad registration. For someone who won’t play, a very sensible signing.
João Virgínia (€1.5 million) – B
As the self-confessed data guy, I really don’t know what to make of a goalkeeper who hasn’t played a full season in about 3 years. Although, looking at the intangibles, the Portuguese shot-stopper is homegrown and able to help converse with the squad in both English and Portuguese which will no doubt help Peixoto to get his ideas across. Even still, as our number 2 for the campaign, that season on loan in Holland a few years ago was very strong and had a good couple of performances for Sporting CP last season.
Sean Neave (Loan) – C
For those that follow my personal Twitter, you will see that Neave’s data from Newcastle’s U21s last season is very good. However, the requirements for this position should’ve been a more experienced option to rotate with an aging Jiménez and serve as a competent starter should the Mexican get injured. Instead, Neave is going to be given his first senior minutes of professional football. Granted, his data is very promising but I feel it is an unwarranted, big risk.
Ghislain Konan (Free Transfer) – A
A somewhat similar signing to Kieran Trippier in the sense that the Ivory Coast international will bring great experience to deputise Hugo Bueno at left back. Having worked under Peixoto at Gil Vicente last season, and excelling, I think this has the potential to be a very shrewd signing, albeit seeming quite desperate at the last minute. Still, his data appears to be strong and I have full confidence that this signing will be looked back upon favourably.
Outgoings
João Gomes (€40 million) – C
It always felt inevitable that Gomes would leave this summer, especially with André opting to stay put as well. Therefore, we cannot be too upset that he has gone on to join a club playing Champions League football. However, moving to a local rival is one thing, but going for a fee of just €40 million is another. Given the current market for midfielders and a bit of a premium for a local rival, the fee feels so low. Still, it begrudges me to say I think he does well for them lot, despite his woeful performance against Brighton.
Matt Doherty (Free Transfer) – A
With his contract expiring at the end of June, Doherty opted to join Sheffield United as a free agent. For the leadership and experience I thought it was a no-brainer to sign the Irish defender down to a new deal at Molineux, but it was clear in the latter parts of the season he was well past his glory days in a Wolves shirt. Tied in with his petulant behaviour on social media, it was best Doherty be allowed to leave. Will always be a legend for his service to the club however.
Tolu Arokodare (Loan with option to buy of €22 million) – A
After grading his incoming transfer last summer for €27 million a B, an A for a loan with an option of less than what we purchased him for seems stupid. Realistically, no club would’ve give us our money back so a loan at a decent club with his wages covered and a loss of only €5 million should he move their permanently is great business. Has started his season well at Ajax which looks even more promising that we do manage to ship an obvious problem on.
Dan Bentley (Free Transfer) – B
Probably the most indifferent I am to a transfer this summer and therefore the hardest one to grade. Cost us a nominal fee under Lopetegui and sold for nothing over 3 years later. No matter what people think of Bentley, he was still a very good third choice goalkeeper and I am somewhat surprised he has gone to the Premier League to be a backup. Ruddy is obviously a downgrade on him but will be on much lower wages for a player not playing.
Ki-Jana Hoever (€2 million) – C
Signed under Nuno in the summer of 2020 for almost €10 million, it has never worked at Wolves for the Dutch right back. Many loan moves that seemed successful culminated in a spell as a starter at the start of last season. Unfortunately, his level was quickly discovered as he dropped out of the squad altogether and joined Sheffield United on loan in January. A massive financial loss that Wolves will be quick to try and forget about.
Sasa Kalajdzic (Free Transfer) – D
Injuries have completely derailed the career of our Austrian striker, as is evident by him signing for €18 million and leaving for nothing. Although, Wolves do hold a sell-on clause of 50%. However, at his age and profile now, it seems hard to imagine that we recoup anywhere close to that fee. I also feel we could’ve kept him around this season as a serviceable backup to Jiménez but Sasa made it clear he didn’t think his injury record would suit the second tier. He departs to LASK, where he shone on loan last season, with my best wishes.
David Møller Wolfe (£500k loan fee with a £12.5 million option to buy) – B
Another of last summer’s recruits to depart a year later, Wolfe was always going to be backup to Bueno this season and someone of his international calibre shouldn’t be a backup in the Championship. Should the Norwegian have a strong campaign in the Bundesliga, Wolves will recoup a profit on the left back whilst they pay his wages for the duration of the season as well. Hard to see this as a negative move for anyone involved really.
Hwang Hee-Chan (Loan with £3 million option to buy) – C
On the face of it, grading this a C feels harsh. Schalke have agreed to take an obvious problem and player that Peixoto doesn’t fancy off our hands whilst covering all of his reported high wages with an option to let us get rid of the South Korean permanently. However, I am grading this from the perspective that a player we rejected multiple 8 digit offers for could now leave us at a near €15 million loss.
Sam Johnstone (Loan) – B
Arguably one of the signings that has got us in this position, the former England international departed on deadline day up north to Celtic where he will spend the rest of the season. The Scottish club are paying his full wages which is brilliant to get those costs off our books whilst giving him a decent level of exposure to hopefully put himself in the shop window for next summer.
Overall Grade – B
Having seen mixed reactions on social media over the past few days, I think a lot of people are judging this window too harshly. The reason for this, I suspect, is the comments made by Matt Jackson at the fan’s forum a few months ago. Granted, these comments in hindsight were a massive mistake and I think he probably regrets saying them as well. Nevertheless, the squad is in a stronger place than it was at the start of the window overall and therefore objectively it cannot be a lower grade than a B. It isn’t a perfect window by any means, and I am concerned at the lack of a right winger and a much less experienced backup option upfront, but if those issues were rectified it’s a near perfect window for me. Many players we thought would go have stayed who, despite a terrible season last time out, are incredible players for this level of football. Proof is in the pudding, however, and there will be always be January to rectify it.
(All fees from Transfermarkt)
