Wolves forced to rethink plans to sign at least one striker this month as Gary O’Neil reveals the club can’t afford their top targets

Gary O’Neil has revealed Wolves have been forced to revise plans to sign a new striker because they cannot afford their top targets.

Earlier in January the Molineux boss was optimistic at signing at least one centre-forward after allowing Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva to depart on loan but ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup clash against local rivals West Bromwich Albion, O’Neil admitted the goalposts had moved.

‘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.’

Wolves were sailing close to the wind financially last summer, as they sold £140million worth of players to stay within spending rules.

Last summer Wolves came close to signing Che Adams from Southampton, and looked at a deal for Danny Ings earlier in this window. 

Callum Wilson and Armando Broja are also forwards who may be available though it appears both are outside Wolves’ price range.

O’Neil’s immediate priority is to help Wolves win at The Hawthorns for the first time 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.’