While the end of the transfer window may be on the horizon, one issue which remains at Wolverhampton Wanderers is in their centre-forward ranks, with manager Bruno Lage still seemingly suffering for the lack of a new striking recruit.
Despite only recently completing the signing of Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes – along with the permanent capture of Hwang Hee-chan from earlier in the year – the Molineux club are still in need of a new target man, with neither of those being a true number nine.
With Raul Jimenez currently sidelined with injury – after scoring just six league goals last season – and with goal-shy youngster Fabio Silva having been shipped out on loan to Anderlecht, the need for a new marksman at Wolves has only increased.
One man who could be the answer to Lage’s prayers is Southampton striker Che Adams, with the Old Gold among a handful of Premier League clubs who have been linked with the Scotland international of late.
The 26-year-old – who could reportedly be available for a fee of at least £15m – has been a steady performer for the Saints since his arrival from Birmingham City three years ago, having scored 20 goals and provided ten assists in his top-flight career thus far.
The £30k-per-week menace had previously been a prolific presence during his time at St Andrew’s, notably netting 22 goals in 46 Championship games in 2018/19 to alert the attention of his current club.
The 19-cap hotshot – who has netted six goals for his country so far – would no doubt add increased firepower to a team which scored just 38 goals in as many league games last term, with only the three relegated teams having netted fewer.
While it may not appear the most exciting addition for Wolves supporters, it is worth noting that the Leicester-born gem has previously earned comparisons to Brazilian icon Ronaldo.
His former Ilkeston teammate Matt Baker said of Adams: “He reminds me a little bit of the old Ronaldo. He had that raw ability. I wouldn’t say he was electric quick but he was powerful and strong. He would brush people off and he could go through people. And he always had a finish at the end of it.”
That claim – which likely stems from the similar physique and size of the two strikers – will no doubt have caught the attention of Lage and co, with it undoubtedly lofty praise to be considered to such a great of the game.
The now-retired genius was a truly devastating forward in his pomp, winning a plethora of major honours at domestic, European and international level, while also scoring goals galore in a glittering career which saw ‘Il Fenomeno’ enjoy stints at some of Europe’s elite clubs.
In total, the World Cup winner plundered 295 goals in 450 club career appearances, while also adding a further 62 goals in 98 games at international level, with such a record seeing him revered as arguably one of the finest strikers of the modern era.
Of course, while Adams is a long way from replicating such feats, it is a marker of his natural raw talent that he can be compared to such a legendary figure, with those at Wolves surely eager to see the dynamic forward unleashed under Lage this season, if a deal can be struck.
The former Benfica boss would no doubt love to have a Ronaldo-esque presence like Adams in his forward line, especially given his team’s goalscoring woes.