A near-perfect season in the Championship will see Wolverhampton Wanderers rub shoulders with the big guns in the Premier League next season. The financial stability at the club might see them acquire some exciting talent this summer transfer window.
One name now doing the rounds is that of Abel Hernandez.
Wolves Join Race for Hernandez:
A transfer target for the likes of Celtic and Newcastle United, the Uruguayan international is out of a contract with Hull City at the end of June and reports now claim that Wolves have joined the race for his signature.
Brendan Rodgers is eager to take him to Glasgow and has already drawn up a lucrative contract but the 27-year old’s previous experience in the Premier League might see him prefer to stay back in England. Is he an option that Wolves should add to their wish list?
Hernandez And His Struggles:
Having moved to England for the first time in 2014, he started his English career in the Premier League but was relegated with Hull City in his first season. He stayed with the club and emerged as one of the best players for The Tigers in the 2015-16 season, where he managed 21 goals and two assists, helping his side back into the top flight.
However, his dip in form, along with lack of quality around saw his numbers drop drastically, and Hull got relegated once again, leaving Hernandez frustrated. He had just a year on his contract at the start of the current season and though he managed eight goals in 8 Championship starts for Hull this season, has decided not to stay back at KCOM for another season.
A centre-forward with deadly finishing skills and even better eye for a pass, the 27-year old is a busy striker, who loves to run the lines and draw defenders away from goal. He is smart with the ball at his feet and is adept at creating chances consistently.
He played just eight games in the entire season for Hull City but his returns in front of goal show that he deserves a lot more. He has already had a couple of seasons in the top flight and this might be his final chance to prove himself at the highest level.
Right Man For Wolves?
Nuno Santo’s side used Leo Bonatini as the first choice striker this season with Diogo Jota and Benik Afobe acting as backups. However, Bonatini has returned to his parent club while Afobe’s permanent move to Wolves is not a done deal as of yet.
Jota is only a backup and not an outright striker, leaving Rafa Mir as the best option at the moment for the manager, to lead the line. So Wolves need to spend on more than one striker this summer to survive the rigours of the Premier League and Abel Hernandez can do a decent job as one of the two.
They need to spend big to add a quality striker to their squad this summer so Hernandez on a free transfer is definitely worth the risk.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored