Wolverhampton Wanderers have a big problem when it comes to scoring goals, especially over the previous 18 months or so.

In the Premier League last season, the Old Gold netted just 38 goals, the fourth-lowest in the division. Due to an excellent defence, which conceded only 43 times, they managed to finish 10th in the final table.

Raul Jimenez and Daniel Podence shared the top scorer honours with six goals each, and this was an area that Bruno Lage was desperately looking to improve during the summer transfer window.

The Molineux side purchased Sasa Kalajdzic from Stuttgart in the hope that he could remedy their woes in front of goal, but a serious injury on his debut led the manager to delve into the free agent market and sign Diego Costa on a free transfer.

It could have been so much better for Wolves, however, as they had an opportunity to sign a striker who has excelled in Serie A throughout his career…

Wolves missed out on Belotti

In August, it was reported that the Old Gold had made an attempt to sign Italian forward Andrea Belotti as he was a free agent. AS Roma were his preferred choice, but with Lage urgently needing more attacking reinforcements, a move was made.

It wasn’t to be for Wolves, with Jose Mourinho winning the race for the 28-year-old's services. It will come as an opportunity missed opportunity for the Black Country outfit, especially with just three goals scored in seven league matches so far this season.

The £74k-p/w hitman is a proven goalscorer, and at a high level too, netting 106 times in Serie A during the course of his career, while adding 12 for the Italian national team.

Former AC Milan coach Fabio Capello once dubbed the striker “better than Batistuta” when he was at Torino.

Of course, Gabriel Batistuta is one of the greatest number 9s of all time, scoring a ridiculous 299 goals during his club and international career. Belotti shares the Argentine's brute strength and power, while also having the capacity to score from just about anywhere.

Lage missed a big opportunity to bring a genuine goalscorer to the Premier League, and on a free transfer too. How much might he rue this mistake come the end of the season?