He scored a Premier League hat trick last season, and Wolverhampton Wanderers far exceeded many people’s expectations for the 2023/24 season. Despite finishing comfortably in the middle of the table, many observers, including the BBC’s top football writer Phil McNulty, projected relegation for Gary O’Neil’s side. He projected they will finish 18th and that he had a “very, very worrying feeling” about the Midlands team.
They eventually ended 14th in the Premier League, more than 20 points ahead of 18th-place Luton Town. Wolves were only three points behind tenth-place Crystal Palace, which finished the season with 49 points and was in top form under new manager Oliver Glasner.
It was a campaign in which Wolves’ star players consistently delivered good performances for their team. Despite injury concerns, Portugal winger Pedro Neto scored twice and assisted nine times in just 20 Premier League games. Matheus Cunha also had a strong season, scoring 12 goals and assisting seven times in 32 appearances for Molineux. With the summer transfer window approaching, O’Neil and his team may focus on ways to strengthen their roster. Wolves have already been connected with one Premier League star who could make the move to Molineux this summer.
3ddie Nketiah 📞 pic.twitter.com/9uiyR8Gl6V
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 29, 2023
Wolves trying to sign a Premier League striker. The player in question here is Arsenal and England striker Eddie Nketiah. Despite showing flashes of form for the Gunners in the 2023/24 season, Nketiah could well depart the Emirates Stadium this summer in search of regular first-team football.
O’Neil’s Wolves side are thought to be one of the sides interested in signing Nketiah, according to The Sun. However, he does explain that Arsenal are “reluctant” to move the striker on from the club this summer, but the player could look to force a move through. Wolves are also not the only side in the Premier League who are looking to bring Nketiah in this summer. Fulham are thought to be in pole position to sign Arsenal’s number 14, with Crystal Palace also interested. However, Everton are considering making a move on loan, which might suit all parties best, given Arsenal’s reluctance to sell and Nketiah’s desire for first-team football.
It is believed that the England international might be available for roughly £30 million. This is money that Wolves may only be able to pay if key players like Neto leave this summer. According to John Percy of The Telegraph, the Portuguese player has been linked with a £60 million move to Manchester City and Tottenham.
How does Nketiah compare to Hwang Hee-chan
Nketiah appeared in just 27 Premier League games last season under Mikel Arteta, and despite an impressive start, he was unable to establish himself in the team. He scored five goals and assisted twice, three of which came in one game, a 5-0 hammering of Sheffield United.
Despite the lack of game time last season, he is certainly a good player. Arsenal writer for The Athletic, Aaron Catterson-Reid, described the 25-year-old centre-forward as a “monster” and explained that he is “the real deal”.
This is also something that is reflected in his Fbref stats. Nketiah is comparable to Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, who himself had an impressive year at Molineux. The 28-year-old scored 12 goals and registered three assists in just 29 Premier League games, an impressive return given it is four more goals than his other two English top-flight campaigns combined. Nketiah’s expected goals tally for the 2023/24 campaign was higher than that of Hwang. The English forward averaged 0.38xG per 90 minutes last season, with Hwang slightly less at 0.33xG per 90. Not only that, the Arsenal forward averaged 2.33 shot-creating actions and 0.67 goal-creating actions per 90, which is better but close to Hwang’s 2.04 shot-creating actions and 0.38 goal-creating actions per 90.
Something vital in O’Neil’s Wolves side is being a good ball-carrier which, according to the stats, Nketiah is. Like Hwang he is comfortable carrying the ball at his feet, averaging 1.83 progressive carries per 90 compared to Hwang’s 1.57 progressive carries. However, the South Korean averages slightly more carries into the penalty area compared to the Arsenal attacker, with 1.02 per 90 compared to the Englishman’s 0.92 per 90. Either way, they’re very alike in this regard.
Signing Nketiah would be a wise move by Wolves. Not only are they adding a talented Premier League striker to their roster, who has the potential to explode if given enough minutes, but their overall striking options will be improved.
Having the option of starting Cunha, Hwang, and Nketiah would be a tremendous luxury for O’Neil given their skill, and Wolves may become a goal-scoring team next season.
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