Wolves are eyeing a move for the Porto forward Moussa Marega, as they look to bolster their squad for the Europa League next season.
According to Daily Mirror, Wolves are looking to lure Marega to the Molineux stadium amid interest from rivals Leicester City and West Ham United.
The Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made the Mali International his priority signing for the summer.
The 28-year-old managed 32 goal contributions in 2018/19 campaign, and scored 20 times, which is more than any Wolves striker. Although a case for the quality of leagues can be made, Marega’s numbers can’t be overlooked.
Marega to Wolves: A good option for Nuno
Marega is coming back of a very successful (individually) season with FC Porto. He features in a second-striker role for the Portuguese side, but possesses the versatility to play on either wing or as a lone striker upfront.
Nuno Espirito Santo, who generally uses a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 formation, can use a player of Marega’s quality, especially with his backup strikers often misfiring. Wolves’ backup trio of Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, and Adama Traore only managed five goals between them this past season.
The likes of Raul Jimenez and Diego Jota did the majority of the goal-scoring, but with European competition knocking on the door, there won’t be a whole lot of time to rectify mistakes.
One more competition being added to their calendar means more games, which would require Nuno to rotate his squad. To avoid a Burnley like situation, Wolves must increase their squad depth with quality signings.
Qualifying for Europe and staying in it are two totally different things and the Portuguese manager knows it. You won’t get as many chances and will have far less time to adjust, thus a player of proven quality, especially a striker, remains a must.
Marega certainly is one of them having the experience of Champions League under his belt, as he scored six goals and provided three assists.
The Mali International’s finishing, physicality and aerial prowess in the attacking phase are other key attributes which can help Wolves perform well both in Europa League and in Premier League. Marega’s crossing, passing and defensive contributions remain a bit of a worry, but those aspects can improve.
The 28-year-old’s price tag of £30m has raised some concern, but that’s the kind of risk they have to take going into next season.
Wolves don’t have European experience in their dressing room, as a majority of their players have never played such high-profile games. Hence adding more experience along with quality remains key.
Stat Courtesy: Whoscored