Wolves are not usually one to do their business in January nor are they the sort to look into the depths of English football for potential signings, but these are two trends that they could break this month.

According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, the west Midlanders are 'desperate' to clinch Birmingham City's rising teen Jude Bellingham, but they face a host of competition for top-flight rivals as well as abroad.

Manchester United are said to have offered in excess of £12.5m for the 16-year-old, per the Daily Mirror, although it remains to be seen how much his signature will cost if he were to depart St Andrew's during the current window.

The Athletic have also claimed that manager Nuno Santo expects two attacking additions this month, which would contrast the above reports.

Therefore, we asked the finest writers at Football FanCast to give their thoughts on the prospect of Wolves signing Bellingham, would it be a good move? Is it the right one? Read on...

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Viji Jeevathayalan

"With Manchester United also said to be in the frame, this would go down as a major coup for Wolves. Beating the Old Trafford giants to the signature of a highly-touted youngster would speak volumes of Wolves' fine work since making their return to the top-flight. "At 16, Jude Bellingham is unlikely to come in and make a straight impact on-the-pitch, but crucially for the Molineux side, it would deliver a major statement to the rest of the Premier League that they ought to be taken seriously. Young talents across the country could end up seeing Wolves as the perfect destination to further develop and grow. "Not all signings have to be about the short-term or with instant success in mind. Sometimes the bigger picture is more important. And for Wolves, signing Bellingham from under the noses of United would be a sign that they are a force to be reckoned with."

Charles Jones

"Wolves signing Jude Bellingham would certainly be a look towards the future, but that isn't what the Midlands side need this month.

"£12.5m is a hefty amount to spend on a 16-year-old, and with the club on the verge of mounting a top four challenge, they need to use those funds to get someone in who could potentially get them over the line this season. "Looking towards the future is never a bad thing, but Bellingham surely won't be getting in that team ahead of Ruben Neves or Joao Moutinho anytime soon.

"Perhaps it's more one to look at in the summer rather than this month, but then again they could miss out if Man Utd secure his signature, so it's a tough one.

"Overall, I think Wolves must think about their present chances as that's the more pressing matter at Molineux."

Matt Dawson

"This signing would be a dream for Fosun and Wolves. Jeff Shi has made it no secret that he wants the club to build for the future, previously suggesting he has aspirations to invest heavily into quality young players. Therefore, signing a 16-year-old who is ready for first-team action would satisfy Fosun's ambition perfectly.

"Jude Bellingham burst onto the scene this season and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. In his first full campaign in the Championship, the teenager has three goals and a solitary assist, playing in seven different. It's that type of versatility that could prove incredibly beneficial for Nuno Santo throughout the back end of the season as Wolves step up their attempts to be crowned Europa League Champions.

"A hectic schedule could soon follow, so adding more bodies to their small ranks will only be a good thing. If Wolves can beat away competition from Manchester United, they will have one of the most exciting young players in the country on their hands. After all, featuring on a regular basis for your side at that age is some feat."

Kealan Hughes

"This could be a piece of Nuno genius if Wolves manage to pull this move off, as Bellingham offers both great ability and great potential.

"Many young players start off well before fading away, but he has shown great consistency ever since his debut goal at Charlton, adding two more and becoming a regular under Pep Clotet.

"It is easy to see why, too, as the 16-year-old has averaged 2.2 tackles and one dribble per game despite his inexperience, and his bravery should be commended.

"Under a manager like Nuno, was has improved the likes of Adama Traore and Matt Doherty no end, Bellingham could grow into a fantastic Premier League and provide some much-needed competition for Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, who have been relied upon to 35 and 33 games respectively this season."

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Meanwhile, in other news, Express & Star journalist believes Wolves should be targeting a familiar £5m man this month...