It was reported quite early on that the manager had wanted a new centre-forward above all else, and that need became stronger once Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva were loaned out.
Wolves plugged away, attempting to move for Armando Broja on deadline day – but ultimately they were unsuccessful, and O’Neil must now proceed with a very small squad.
Wolves have not had issues scoring goals this season, but it would have been nice to have added another option.
O’Neil now only has Matheus Cunha and Nathan Fraser as striker options.
One wonders if, given the apparent struggles to land a new striker, Wolves might have given someone who is known very well at Molineux a late call – and they can still do that…
Wolves should consider second free Diego Costa swoop
Last season, Wolves made a shock move for Diego Costa, after Silva was loaned out to Anderlecht, Sasa Kalajdzic suffered his ACL injury, and it was clear that Raul Jimenez was struggling with his fitness.
Wanderers decided to see if Costa would play for them on a deal until the end of the season, and the veteran answered the call to arms.
He arrived out of shape and lacking match fitness and sharpness.
It took him a few months to become impactful, but towards the end, Costa was brilliant for Wolves and arguably the best performer in the last two months of the 2022/23 campaign.
He may have only scored one goal for Wolves, but Costa totally reinvigorated a team that looked down and out halfway through the campaign.
Costa’s fighting spirit was infectious.
He may no longer have been the world-class striker we all saw at Chelsea, but you could see that, at least by the end, Wolves were a far more competitive outfit than at the start of the season. Ruben Neves called him ‘a fantastic player’ during Costa’s best period back in April.
By many accounts, he was brilliant for the dressing room and someone who commanded respect – apparently, Matheus Cunha and Joao Gomes were particularly fond of him.
Cunha was one of the first players to react to Costa leaving the club, before an official announcement had even been made.
Costa is right there for Wolves
The transfer window is now closed and Wolves cannot use the market to add to their squad – but they can still move for free agents, of course.
Recently, Diego Costa ended his short spell at Botafogo, failing to reach an agreement with the club over a contract extension. Their board wanted to keep him, but ultimately the demands he was making could not be met.
So Costa is right there for Wolves, although it was reported at the end of the January transfer window that Palmeiras were showing an interest.
That means Wanderers may need to get a move on, but it’s definitely something the club should consider, if the wages are affordable.
Ultimately, O’Neil could do with someone who can come in and be content with a rotation role. Costa should still be relatively fit having not long finished the Brazilian season, and he has already shown what kind of impact he can have for Wolves.
Surely, there are far worse courses of action to take than handing Costa – a player loved around these parts and someone who can still play – a deal until the end of the season.
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