Wolves blog: Decisions to be made

The news that Willy Boly is set to be the second of the six loanees – along with Diogo Jota – to join permanently is a fantastic early summer victory.

Boly has been a rock at the back for Wolves, notching three goals and sending striker after striker plummeting to the ground after ill-thought-out aerial battles against him.

To sign him for eight figures is probably the going rate for a Premier League defender – but the risk is minimised with him having already played for Wolves for a season.

There were murmurs that Boly wasn’t enjoying his time in England or that he didn’t want to stay – but to capture him permanently is a great sign of intent and means that the club do not have to try and find a suitable replacement.

Jota’s deal was agreed in January and will be fully confirmed once his loan ends on July 1 – again, another signing which, after his performance for Wolves in the Championship, was a must.

Wolves’ top goalscorer showed tenacity, bravery and flair and, like Boly, there is a strong likelihood he will be a starting line-up regular next season.

To have signed for Atletico Madrid and played for Porto, he was obviously well-regarded and Wolves have done extremely well to agree the permanent signing of such a high-calibre player.

Wolves’ four other loanees also have option-to-purchase clauses in their contracts, according to Wolves’ hierarchy.

Benik Afobe, Ruben Vinagre, Alfred N’Diaye and Leo Bonatini’s futures remain up in the air.

The club are said not to be in favour of making Leo Bonatini’s stay a longer one.

That’s a shame in my opinion, as a striker as capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play as he is has got to be worth the reported £5million transfer fee.

However, he went off the boil after the New Year and didn’t really get a good look in again, looking short of confidence whenever he was given the nod.

If Nuno and co think he isn’t one to keep, we can thank him and wish him well for his role he played in getting us promoted, and his dozen goals which set us on our way to promotion.

Ruben Vinagre is an interesting option – he quite clearly has talent as an attacking full back, which he proved to devastating effect away at Burton and at Man City.

If Barry Douglas hadn’t channelled his inner David Beckham this season, we would have seen a lot more of Ruben – but to know he is our backup has been a source of comfort and rarely have Wolves had two solid left-backs in the squad.

If Wolves can get a good deal for Vinagre, and he wants to join, he would be a solid investment, for me.

Whether to sign Alfred N’Diaye poses a tough question. In the Championship he has largely played third fiddle to Ruben Neves and Romain Saiss.

If rumours are to be believed, midfielder Pele is also on his way to Molineux – how much of a role would N’Diaye then play?

He is a big, solid midfielder who is strong and physical, but also able to score a goal.

He also has Premier League experience, and for a high-end seven-figure fee he may fill a gap in the squad and leave Wolves needing to make less new signings in the transfer market.

Finally, and arguably the most difficult one to consider, is Benik Afobe.

His goal-per-minute rate is high, and in two spells at the club he has shown his strength, pace and finishing ability.

The question is – do Wolves pay the same - or a higher - fee than they gained when selling him to Bournemouth two-and-a-half years ago?

He hasn’t necessarily been in the starting line-up every game this season – what chance does he have in the Premier League, especially with Wolves sure to sign a dedicated first-choice striker?

But he is a player comfortable with the surroundings, and if any new forward takes a bit of time to gel and bed in, Afobe could be the perfect option.

The loan-with-a-view-to-purchase option has given Wolves a great advantage this season, bringing in players in a try-before-you-buy deal – and surely the club will look to similar deals this coming transfer window.