Wolverhampton Wanderers could live to regret snubbing Sardar Azmoun

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Wolves reportedly failed to agree terms with Rubin Kazan over a move for the Iran ace. They might have missed out on a gem.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were said to be in the hunt for Iran international striker Sardar Azmoun during January but the move reportedly collapsed.

According to Sky Sports News, Wolves had opened talks with Russian club Rubin Kazan about the 24-year-old, which supposedly discussed a £1.75million loan fee.

Rubin Kazan, meanwhile, were said to be keen on a £11.4million obligation to buy permanently, while Wolves would only agree to an option to buy.

The Daily Mail subsequently reported on transfer deadline day that the Premier League team wasn’t willing to commit to a permanent deal and so the move collapsed.

According to Fox Sports Asia, the Team Melli ace, who played all three games for his country at the 2018 World Cup, is now closing in on a move to fellow Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg, so it looks as though Wolves have missed the boat.

Could Wanderers regret missing out on Azmoun? The first reason why that could be the case is his stunning record at international level – 27 in 43 senior caps, plus 29 in 30 in the various youth groups (Transfermarkt)

Admittedly that doesn’t paint the full picture and his rate of 42 goals in 154 games at club level for Kazan and FK Rostov is more modest, but he also has 20 assists in there, so he can create as well as score.

A scouting report ahead of Russia 2018 on UFCB described him as a direct centre-forward who “scores with both feet and his head and tends to bear down on and in towards goal very quickly once he has sight of a chance.

“He also follows up clinically sniffing out any danger in and around the opponents goal areas and finishes his chances quickly and often with a simple one touch and shot.”

Given Azmoun is still relatively young and has more potential to grow, plus the fact is he rumoured to be linking up with one of Russia’s strongest clubs, denoting an upward trajectory, it remains to be seen whether Wolves will regret missing out on him.