Sunderland striker Danny Graham seals Wolves loan switch
Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers (5/1 with Coral to win promotion) have taken a chance on Sunderland striker Danny Graham.
Kenny Jackett has snapped up the out-of-form forward on a loan until the end of December, as Wolves look to bolster their attack in the race for Premier League promotion.
Graham, who spent the end of last season with Wolves’ second-tier rivals Middlesbrough, has struggled to find a place for himself at the Stadium of Light.
Even misfiring United States frontman Jozy Altidore has been preferred up front this term, leading Graham to look elsewhere for game time.
The 29-year-old began his career on Riverside, also enjoying stints at Watford and Swansea City, before joining the Black Cats in 2013.
With Gus Poyet’s boys struggling for form, Graham has been left on the sidelines, having failed to find the net once in 12 outings for the northeast side.
Despite forking out a reported £5m for the frontman, it is believed the Black Cats were prepared to cut their losses this summer; however, a mooted move to Boro never materialised.
After cooling his heels on the bench this campaign and being yet to make a first-team appearance, Graham has finally secured a loan switch.
High-flying Wolves, who currently sit third in the Championship, have some concerns in attack, with on-loan Hull City striker Yannick Sagbo failing to impress.
Speaking of his decision to axe the former Monaco man and send him back to Steve Bruce early, Jackett said: “You always learn lessons but in recruitment you do get some wrong – no club gets it 100 per cent right.
“What’s important is you don’t let things fester and you move on.”
Meanwhile, the Championship club’s top scorer, winger Bakary Sakho, has been constantly linked with a Premier League switch, meaning Jackett needs back up. With fellow attacker Nouha Dicko still shaking off injury concerns, Graham will have the chance to grab an opportunity and star in a side aspiring to top-flight status.
The Midlands outfit have been in fantastic form, but a recent 5-0 drubbing by league leaders Derby County has clearly convinced boss Jackett that he needs extra fire power at his disposal.
A peek at the Championship top scorers table reveals Wolves (20/1 to win the Championship title) have just Mali starlet Sako in the upper echelons, and require a boost to compete with fellow promotion hopefuls Derby, who have netted six more than their rivals.
Graham, who recently saw a potential loan switch to Brentford fall through, will be hoping he can ease Wolves’ worries during his temporary escape from his Stadium of Light woe.