Wolverhampton Wanderers may have only picked up one point from their opening three Premier League games, but could Bruno Lage’s side be on the verge of adding some much-needed firepower to their team?
According to CalcioMercato, the Black Country outfit have made an offer to sign free agent Andrea Belotti.
But the report states that the former Torino man has rejected the offer from the Molineux side because he wants to join Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
While the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager looks to be in the driving seat to sign the Italy international, the Fosun-owned club will be hopeful that they can somehow lure the Italian to the Black Country.
While Raul Jimenez came off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Spurs, Wolves desperately need a striker to bolster their forward line.
Landing Belotti would represent a massive coup for Lage’s side and while he would most probably fare much better than his underwhelming compatriot Patrick Cutrone – a move for the 44-time Italy international looks difficult to broker right now.
However, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Paulo Dybala already at the Stadio Olympico, there is no guarantee of Belotti being a starter under Mourinho in the Eternal City.
At the age of 28, Belotti is in his prime and he would be considered an upgrade on Jimenez – he could become Lage’s main man.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal’s priority target for the remainder of the transfer window is Pedro Neto, but despite the Gunners being willing to pay £35m to sign the Portuguese international, Wolves reportedly want £50m.
While it maybe an unrealistic Italian job currently, HITC Sport takes a look at a potential Wolves XI with Andrea Belotti and without Arsenal target Pedro Neto.
Wolves XI with Andrea Belotti and without Arsenal target Pedro Neto
With four of the back five positions seemingly cemented depending on fitness and availability, the right-back spot is likely to be the only defensive position which brings real competition for places.
Jonny Otto has started the first three games of the season as Lage’s first-choice right-back Nelson Semedo is eased back into action after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The former Barcelona full-back Semedo is the more attack-minded out of the pair, but Jonny is arguably more disciplined when it comes to the defensive side of the game.
The pair could rotate throughout the season, but we’re tipping Semedo to make the position his own.
After Morgan Gibbs-White became one of Wolves’ record sales with his move to Nottingham Forest, Lage unleashed an all Portugal midfield trio against Antonio Conte’s Spurs.
As well as handing a debut to club-record signing Matheus Nunes in north London, Joao Moutinho also made his first appearance of the season alongside Ruben Neves.
With Nunes being deployed in the anchor role, his compatriots played slightly in front of the former Sporting Lisbon star.
With the former Lazio man Neto potentially Gunners bound, Lage could deploy Goncalo Guedes and Daniel Podence on the flanks with Adama Traore likely to remain as an impact substitute.
Belotti scored 113 goals during his seven years with Torino and he’s established himself as one of the best marksman on the continent.
He has scored 106 Serie A goals and has netted 12 times for the Azzurri. Jimenez scored six Premier League goals last season and Lage will be keen to relinquish some of the goalscoring burden from the Mexican’s shoulders.
Belotti may only be a pipe dream right now but if his seemingly impending move to the Giallorossi does fall through, Wolves have to be ready to strike and grasp the opportunity to sign one of most formidable finishers in European football.
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