Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly keen to bring Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga targetman Joelinton to the Premier League.
If you want to be a striker at Wolverhampton Wanderers, you’ve got to be more than just a goalscorer.
Raul Jimenez was a huge hit at Molineux last season after all, and not just because he scored 17 times in all competitions after arriving from Benfica. The Mexican international is about the most all-round number nine as you can find in today’s game.
He is a superb target man, capable of linking the play with ease, bringing team-mates into the game, running the channels and dominating defenders with his physicality and masterful movement.
With that in mind, it is not difficult to understand why Joelinton, the Brazilian striker who plays for Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, has emerged as Wolves’ latest transfer target, according to Kicker.
The Northern Echo claimed when Newcastle United were linked recently that Joelinton would cost £40 million – a fee that would see him exceed Jimenez and become Wolves’ new record signing.
But for a player who looks as tailor-made as it is possible to be for a Nuno Espirito Santo side, £40 million could be money well spent. The 22-year-old might have scored a less-than-prolific 11 goals for Hoffenheim in 2018/19 but his tally of nine assists reflects more accurately on a player who is very much the modern centre-forward.
Joelinton is an unselfish player who is at his best when occupying defenders, making room for his team-mates and dragging centre-halves out of position. His movement caused Manchester City no end of problems in the Champions League group-stages last season too.
Joelinton is pretty much the carbon copy of Jimenez. So no wonder Wolves want him.
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