Wolverhampton Wanderers have decided to temporarily halt their pursuit of Armando Broja for a £30 million transfer, as they aim to ensure compliance with the Premier League’s financial regulations.
The young Chelsea forward has caught the eye of manager Gary O’Neil and the club’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Matt Hobbs. He has been identified as a prime candidate for the No. 9 position at Molineux.
However, with just a week left in the winter transfer window, O’Neil revealed that Wolves have adjusted their plans due to financial considerations. In the volatile market, he emphasized that nothing is certain.
While O’Neil didn’t mention Broja by name, sources indicate that Wolves had been preparing to secure the 22-year-old on an initial loan deal, with an obligation to buy for approximately £30 million.
“We had been working on a couple of options but it looks like they won’t be doable financially so it’s back to other options,’ said O’Neil.
“It’s disappointing as we felt we were making headway but it looks like it’s not doable.
“I won’t just sign a player for the sake of it. We need to take people who deserve the chance to play for us and are good enough. January is tricky.
“Prices are inflated and people don’t want to lose good players.”
In January, the Molineux manager had been hopeful of securing at least one center-forward, especially after allowing Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva to leave on loan. However, ahead of their FA Cup match against local rivals West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, O’Neil acknowledged that the situation had changed.
Wolves faced financial constraints last summer, leading them to sell players worth £140 million to adhere to spending regulations. During the same period, they were close to securing Che Adams from Southampton and considered a deal for West Ham striker Danny Ings.
Currently, O’Neil’s main focus is on helping Wolves secure a victory at The Hawthorns, a venue where they haven’t won since 1996.
He added: “I am very aware of how important this is to our fans. We have been speaking to the players about how the game will feel from an emotional point of view.”
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