Bournemouth allowed Benik Afobe to join Championship leaders Wolves on loan but what does this mean for Leo Bonatini at Molineux?
It is not just the likes of Diogo Jota and Barry Douglas that will be licking their lips at the prospect of Benik Afobe returning to Molineux.
After a protracted transfer saga, Wolves brought the powerful front man back to the Black Country on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season.
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo had spent the entire transfer window looking for a proven Championship goal-scorer to get the runaway league leaders over the line and Afobe, who netted 22 times in 46 second tier games for Wolves, ticks every possible box.
And his signing could hardly have been better timed. After all, the presence of a proven and prolific centre-forward could just be the kick up the backside Leo Bonatini needs to find his golden touch once again.
Wolves have gone through the whole season with the Al Hilal loanee as their only natural and senior centre-forward. It didn’t matter so much when Nuno’s side were winning every week with Bonatini a consent on the scoreboard but the Brazilian’s barren run now stands at 11 games and, in that time, Wolves have slipped up on more than one occasion.
Afobe’s arrival, then, should take the pressure off somewhat, giving Bonatini the chance to step back from the limelight and come back with a bite.
For the first time since he moved to Molineux, Bonatini’s place in the XI is under threat. How he responds to this new found competition could be the making of him at Wolves with no permanent contract in the bag just yet.
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