Gary O’Neil wants to sign a striker – and could sell a Wolves star to fund it

Gary O’Neil’s summer dreams involve the recruitment of a spearhead for Wolves’ attack.

The Molineux chief is in a healthier position than 12 months ago when he accepted the job four days before the season’s opener at Manchester United.

But he needs a good, old-fashioned No.9. Finding the right man was the brief throughout January – and nothing has changed since then.

O’Neil has got options now that Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-Chan are fit but he desperately needs an out-and-out forward to knit it all together. A move for Chelsea’s Armando Broja came to nothing earlier this season.

With Cunha picking up an injury and Hwang heading off to the Asia Cup, Wolves were left exposed during the second half of a campaign that had started by confounding expectations.

Unlike several other Midlands clubs, over in the Black Country their financial medicine was taken 12 months ago. The sale of Matheus Nunes to Manchester City and Ruben Neves to Al Hilal raised almost £100m and – pardon the pun – kept the Premier League wolves from their door.

It was those sales – and Julen Lopetegui’s misplaced assessment that the crop left behind wouldn’t cope – that led to the feeling that it would be a season to forget.

The ex-Real Madrid chief wanted to keep spending, without realising that the plunge into the market during January last year had been the chief reason why Wolves were able to escape. O’Neil more than steadied the ship.

However, the feeling remains that if the 41-year-old is to push forward again he may need three or four additions.

And with owners Fosun making it clear that the club must become self-sustainable after reigning back on their corporately suicidal attempts to lever more cash out of supporters with monster ticket-price hikes – it is likely that one of their assets could be sacrificed for the greater good.

The question is: Which one?

Pedro Neto is the obvious choice.

Usually, improvement follows. And the Brazilian did plenty to suggest that he might be able to lift his game up one level.

The one who is most likely to be sacrificed for the greater good is Rayan Ait-Nouri. Used as a left-back out of possession and pushed forwards when in it, the Moroccan has come on leaps and bounds.

Outstanding during the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Coventry City – his sale would leave a hole – but one that may not be as decisive as one through the spine of O’Neil’s side, it may be that the African is the one to finance a re-build.

Of course, there remain several unknowns when discussing the potential outcome of Wolves summer. Striker Fabio Silva, Gonzalo Guedes and Daniel Podence all remain under contract but look superfluous to O’Neil.

If – and it’s a big ‘if’ – any sizeable return can be made on any of those – Podence would be useful but appears to have made his feelings on a return to Molineux known on social media – then it could be that Wolves make-do.

But O’Neil will be pushing for a striker. Otherwise, to coin a phrase from a famous old song, those summer dreams may be ripped at the seams. And he will be back to where he started last year.

READ NEXT;

Paul Warne is now ‘close’ to signing his first ‘couple’ of players for Derby County

Transfer rumours and news: Matt O’Riley to Atletico Madrid, Beto to Fenerbahce, James Trafford to Newcastle

West Brom set to financially benefit from Euro 2024

Paul Warne is now ‘close’ to signing his first ‘couple’ of players for Derby County

For More Stories Like This, Check Our Sport Page.