Wolverhampton Wanderers had an offer rejected by Preston North End for striker Jordan Hugill in the summer.
While Wolves’ emergence as Championship title favourites owes much to the thrilling attacking football espoused by the former Valencia and Porto coach Nuno Espirito Santo, it is impossible to ignore the impact financial power has had on their excellent start to the season.
Backed by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, whose close ties to Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes has given Wolves unprecedented access to the Iberian market, the Midlanders can boast the most expensive player in Championship history in Ruben Neves.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota is set to cost a pretty penny too when Wolves make his loan deal from Atletico Madrid permanent at the end of the season.
With reports in The Sun (15th October, page 61) claiming that Preston North End may consider offers of around £12 million for centre-forward Jordan Hugill (above), Wolves should perhaps be seen as the most likely destination.
Sky Sports claimed that Wolves wanted to bring Hugill to Molineux this summer but, despite Preston’s 2016/17 top scorer, handing in a transfer request, he was forced to remain at Deepdale.
And, with Wolves lacking depth at centre-forward, it would be little surprise if they renewed their interest in January – and a £12 million price tag may be within the Chinese-funded club’s grasp.
They certainly have a far better chance than the likes of Sunderland, who The Chronicle claimed were interested in the summer. The debt-ridden Wearsiders, managed by former Preston boss Simon Grayson, simply do not have the funds to make a deal possible.
After Wolves saw an £8 million offer rejected in the summer, however, they appear to be one of the few Championship sides capable of funding a move for Hugill.
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