Wolves boss Paul Lambert loves a lower league signing.
With Wolves’ Jorge Mendes-led recruitment drive reaping few rewards, they should go back to basics next season and target young, ambitious players worthy of a chance higher up the English footballing ladder.
But could this talented trio help Wolves put the survival struggles behind them next season?
Ollie Watkins
With Wolves now flush with Chinese funding, the temptation is to replace the potentially departing Helder Costa with another flashy named, fleet footed import. However, rather than sending scouts to the Estadio da Luz or the Stade Louis II, perhaps Wolves would be better off checking out the progress of a versatile young forward turning heads at Exeter City’s St James’ Park.
Ollie Watkins, a speedy forward capable of scoring or creating in equal measure, has netted 13 League Two goals this season. And his goal threat from wide areas could also make him an excellent addition to Paul Lambert’s armoury, especially if Costa leaves for the Premier League.
Lee Gregory
At 28, Gregory is something of a late bloomer having only made his mark in professional football with Millwall in 2014. However, the former Halifax Town goal machine has demonstrated in the last two seasons that he is far too good for the third tier, netting 33 times in his last 72 League Two appearances.
Meanwhile, Wolves’ three orthodox strikers have netted just four goals between them all season.
A hard-working, instinctive centre-forward who has thrived in the direct nature of lower league football, Gregory proved in Millwall’s march to the FA Cup quarter-finals, embarrassing three Premier League sides along the way, that he is capable of playing at a higher level.
Josh Morris
Scunthorpe United’s talismanic midfielder has netted as many goals this season as he made appearances for Blackburn Rovers. And Tony Mowbray will be ruining the Championship strugglers’ decision to discard Morris at the age of 21, the 19-goal midfielder proving himself to be one of the most talented players below the top two tiers of English football.
With an eye for the spectacular and a dead ball specialist to boot, Morris still has plenty of room for improvement and needs a club capable of taking his game to the next level. He could be a match made in heaven Lambert, a manager renowned for his appreciation of lower league talent.
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