Wolves blog: No need for Benikaphobia

For all the fanfare that a signing late on transfer deadline day brings, the reaction to the return of Benik Afobe has been mixed, writes Wolves blogger Tom Tracey.

There have been a number of criticisms levelled at Afobe, who left Wolves to join Premier League side Bournemouth in January 2016.

They include the fact he didn’t quite cut it at Bournemouth, his attitude when leaving the club and thoughts he can’t fit into Wolves’ system.

On Monday, an Express & Star poll showed roughly a 75-25 split out of more than 7,000 votes as to whether they would want him to return.

In a second poll on deadline day, out of 10,000 votes, 90 per cent said they were happy to see Benik back.

Yes, Benik did leave under something of a cloud and left in January – and still ended up being Wolves’ top scorer at the end of the season with the ten goals he managed in a poor team.

The loss and lack of replacement of Bakary Sako, with whom Afobe and Nouha Dicko had struck up a prolific partnership with, was frustrating to the fans – and obviously frustrating to Afobe.

When he signed, Wolves had a superb second half of the season and the trio ended with 43 goals in 104 appearances between them.

So when things weren’t going as well, a player who had always stated he had Premier League ambitions wanted to leave what he saw as a stagnating club.

Obviously, this will always upset fans who are emotionally forced to remain on-board a ship that is fighting to stay afloat – they can’t just up and leave a club they have attachments to as players can.

But the way Afobe had spoken about Wolves during his time at the club, you feel he would have always preferred to get to the Premier League with Wolves – unfortunately, it wasn’t to be at that time.

But that means he has unfinished business now at a place he calls ‘home’.

In his post-signing interview, he appears determined and confident – he knows he will score goals in this team.

He is proven at this level, even if not quite at the top level, and with the team Wolves will have around him he should hit the ground running.

He has the pace and strength to beat any defender in this league, and with a player like him sitting on the last man ready to pounce, Wolves’ many passing maestros will have a field day.

Afobe spoke about his partnership with Kevin McDonald when he was last here – for Sako, Dicko and McDonald, he now has the likes of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro in support.

This should go some way to helping him – he joins after only one goal in 23 games this season, whereas he had 19 goals for MK Dons by the time he joined in 2015.

Crucially though, the deal is strongly in the club’s favour.

For the amount of dross Wolves have signed in the past, a £1 million deal for half a season is great business – a deal which Wolves got by sticking to their guns and forcing Bournemouth’s hand.

There is no pressure on Wolves to buy him if the deal isn’t as rosy as hoped – but if he does well, he is another weapon in the arsenal and Wolves may be able to sign him for less than they sold him for.

If Nuno wanted Afobe, we have to trust the judgement of a man who has barely put a foot wrong during his tenure.

When the club were after another striker to bolster their firepower all transfer window, to end up with Afobe - there probably aren’t many better deals they could have made.

Wolves’ two main strikers are now both on loan – they both have to impress if they want to remain at Molineux past the summer.

If Afobe plays against Sheffield United, he will be straight back into a huge Molineux crowd – the same as his debut against Blackpool in the game for Sir Jack.

It’s going to be magic, you know…