Wolves took a risk when they sold Nouha Dicko to Hull City – especially with the unknown Leo Bonatini arriving in his place.
Wolves looked to be taking a risk when they sold Nouha Dicko to Hull City in the summer and replaced him with Leo Bonatini.
Though Dicko had struggled with injuries in the last few seasons, the former Wigan Athletic striker had shown signs of getting back to full fitness with the hope that he could rediscover that golden touch that earned him 14 goals in 30 league starts back in 2014/15.
Bonatini, in stark contrast, had never played a single game in English football. A loan signing from Saudi outfit Al-Hilal, the Brazilian was an entirely unknown quantity. And it wouldn’t be the first time a striker has arrived from abroad and struggled to adapt to the hustle and bustle of Championship football.
16 games into the league season, however, and Wolves’ risk is reaping big rewards. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are top of the table and, while Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves have dominated the headlines, Bonatini can stake a claim to be the signing of the season so far.
A natural-born goalscorer, he has hit the net ten times in 14 starts – including seven in his last seven games.
Dicko, meanwhile, has just one in Hull colours so far and has been in and out of the team. Alternating with Fraser Campbell, the fact that the 25-year-old has started just five of his 11 Championship appearances is a reflection of his inability to hit the ground running on Humberside.
Fittingly, everything Wolves seem to touch is turning to gold this season. And that includes their decision to dispense with a proven Championship striker and bring in a player who almost no one in English football had heard of before.
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