Wolverhampton Wanderers want a young striker on loan from the Premier League and Sam Gallagher of Southampton and West Ham’s Ashley Fletcher fit the bill.
A lethal centre-forward remains the missing piece of Wolves’ jigsaw. There’s plenty of creativity at the disposal of Nuno Espirito Santo, the impending arrival of Atletico Madrid starlet Diogo Jota adding to an impressive selection of attackers including previous club-record additions Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro.
However, with Nouha Dicko, scorer of just three goals last season the only senior striker on the club’s books following Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s move to Reading, it’s little surprise the Express and Star is claiming Wolves want a striker.
The report adds that a youngster on loan from a Premier League club would be Wolves’ preferred addition. And, as it stands, it appears they have a choice to make between Southampton’s Sam Gallagher and West Ham’s Ashley Fletcher.
Gallagher stood out in a poor Blackburn team
The Mirror reported that Gallagher will be allowed to leave The Saints on loan this summer and he has already proven his worth at Championship level. The tall targetman netted 11 times on loan at Blackburn Rovers last season, though he was unable to keep them in the Championship.
Blessed with excellent aerial presence and commendable work rate, Rovers would surely have dropped into League One far quicker without Gallagher’s impressive performances.
Experience counts
On paper, therefore, it seems that Gallagher would be a more sensible signing than Fletcher. The Sun claims that West Ham will let the 21-year-old leave on a short-term basis in search for more regular game time after he made just two Premier League starts following a 2016 move from Manchester United.
Fletcher featured in just 354 minutes of league football last season
Unlike Gallagher, however, Fletcher is completely unproven at Championship level. He impressed in League One on loan at Barnsley in 2015/16, netting twice in the play-off final to fire them to promotion but the Championship is an entirely different ball game.
And, by that logic, signing Gallagher may be less of a risk.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
