The phrase ‘sod’s law’ comes to mind.
When Sasa Kajaldzic made his Premier League debut during Wolves’ 1-0 win over Southampton in September, the Molineux faithful were introduced to a man who was supposed to bring about an end to the club’s goalscoring woes under Bruno Lage.
But, when the 6ft 7ins targetman hobbled off at the interval, those of an Old Gold persuasion must have wondered what they had done to anger the gods of football.
The £15 million signing from Stuttgart ruptured his cruciate ligament just 45 minutes into his first appearance in English football. As such, there could be a 12-month gap between Kaladjzic’s debut and his second outing in Wolves’ colours; his season ending almost as soon as it began.
Kalajdzic was not the only one cursing his luck either.
“Wolves (showed an interest in me), but it didn’t materialise. They went for another,” then-Genk talisman Paul Onuachu explains, Kalajdzic’s injury coming too late for Wolves to renew their interest in the Nigeria international.
“The English transfer market had closed by then. So, they could only get free-agents and ended up with Diego Costa. That’s football, eh.”
Wolves chose Sasa Kalajdzic over new Southampton striker Paul Onuachu
Fortuantely for Onuachu, he would not have to wait much longer for a long-awaited chance in the Premier League.
Southampton eventually took the plunge; stumping up £18 million to bring one of Europe’s most underrated number nines to St Mary’s on deadline day. Onuachu, in his last 102 Genk appearances, scored 75 goals. Carry that prolific streak with him to the South Coast, and there is a decent chance Nathan Jones side will still be a top-flight club in 2022/23.
As that two-legged EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United showed, creating chances is not necessarily the problem. Taking them, however, most certainly is.
“Paul is a significant signing for us,” Jones insists. “He completes what has been an extremely positive month in terms of recruitment.
“He’s a handful to play against, has got a tremendous record throughout his career. He’s also someone who brings great experience with him. So he’ll be a really positive addition to the squad.”
There are currently just two points separating Southampton and Wolves at the bottom of the Premier League table. If the Molineux faithful were cursing their luck as the news of Kalajdzic’s devastating ACL blow emerged, that will pale in comparison if the man they could have signed in the Austrian’s place fires Southampton to safety at Wolves’ expense.
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