‘Fee already set’ - Wolves race to beat Chelsea in transfer swoop for 20-goal striker
The latest transfer news as Wolves and Chelsea lock horns for a centre-forward.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly joined the race to sign Deportivo Alaves striker Joaquin Panichelli this summer.
The Old Gold have established they need to sign another centre-forward to compete with Jorgen Strand Larsen next season. The lack of attacking depth has been exposed recently with Strand Larsen sidelined for the defeats to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wolves are actively seeking to address the absence of a proper second-choice number nine at the club, drawing up a shortlist ahead of the summer window. Funds would be made readily available by the likely £62.5 million sale of Matheus Cunha, so there aren’t too many limitations.
Panichelli, who has scored 20 goals on loan at Liga 2 club Mirandes this season, could be an option. The Argentine wasn’t quite ready to start for Alaves in La Liga so was sent out to spend the campaign in the division below. That decision has really paid off as Panichelli has proven himself as a goalscoring machine throughout 2024/25.
The promising forward’s fine form has gained the attention of several top clubs across Europe, and Argentine radio station Onda Cero reports Wolves and Strasbourg are interested. It’s claimed a fee in excess of €20 million has already been readied by both clubs for Panichelli, affirming their interest.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are keen on the striker. As their owner, Todd Boehly, also has a controlling stake in Strasbourg, one route could be for the Blues to sign him and then loan him to Strasbourg to develop. That approach has been tried and tested already, with midfielder Andrey Santos benefiting this term.
How would Joaquin Panichelli fit in at Wolves?
If Wolves were to sign Panichelli this summer, it’s unlikely he’d be a starter immediately. Before this season on loan at Mirandes, the 22-year-old had only played 19 times for Alaves, with many of those appearances coming off the bench.
Panichelli has of course developed since the start of the campaign, but the fact he had hardly started for Alaves in La Liga only 12 months ago suggests he’s not quite ready for the Premier League. It could take the striker a little time to adapt and so he’d probably play a backup role at Molineux.
That’s exactly what Wolves are looking for, though, as Strand Larsen is joining permanently following his loan from Celta Vigo and will expect to start every week. The Norwegian has netted 13 goals so far during his debut Premier League campaign and has more than earned his starting place.
Panichelli would offer some handy cover and strong competition to push Strand Larsen on further. If Wolves’ current number nine were to falter, Panichelli would then have opportunities to impress and potentially force manager Vitor Pereira into some selection dilemmas.
Of course, these situations are all just fictitious for now, but they could soon become a reality if Wolves turn their interest into official action.