Wolves’ transfer business in recent windows has left more than a lot to be desired.
After losing Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty last summer, they welcomed Fabio Silva and Nelson Semedo through the door.
On paper, they were statement signings. Silva is a wonderkid, an expensive one at that. He cost the Old Gold £35.6m but has only scored three goals since arriving. As for Semedo, he has been nothing short of a defensive liability after his move from Barcelona.
Their January business was hardly any better. They chose Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose as the man to replace the injured Raul Jimenez but he simply hasn’t delivered.
The Brazilian hasn’t scored in Wolves colours and is doing himself no favours if he wants a permanent Premier League switch.
Their decision making only gets worse when you consider they passed up the opportunity to sign Jesse Lingard on loan.
A perpetual meme, the Englishman was being courted by Wolves, Tottenham, Arsenal and Newcastle four months ago. He joined West Ham United instead who are reaping the rewards.
Lingard is now one of the most in-form players in the top-flight and has gone from perennial scapegoat to a player who now looks a shoo-in for a place in the squad at the European Championships.
This has all happened in the space of a few months. The 28-year-old has put in some ingenious displays, combining quick thinking and clever feet with an unrelenting attitude.
In just eight outings for the Hammers, he has scored six times while providing four assists. There has only been one match, a 0-0 draw with Fulham, where he’s failed to register a goal involvement for the Irons.
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Lingard has become a feared prospect again, registering a mighty 2.9 shots per game in claret and blue. For context, that’s higher than every player at Wolves this term, including star striker Jimenez.
It’s rather bemusing that this information has come to light just days after he tortured Wolves at Molineux. As West Ham won 3-2, it was Lingard who ran the show in the Midlands, scoring a sensational solo goal after picking up the ball on the halfway line. If that wasn’t enough, he also assisted a strike too.
His form has been scintillating and there are few other players in the Premier League that defenders would hate to face right now.
Described as “intelligent” by Rio Ferdinand, Lingard has taken his football to the next level after swapping Manchester for London.
His performance against Wolves a few days ago showed what they are missing; a player capable of turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
It’s evident that Jeff Shi made a pretty big howler failing to bring the £75k-per-week earner to Molineux in January. He could have revived their season.