Benik Afobe buy can catapult Wolves into promotion picture

Wolverhampton Wanderers, 9/4 chances with Coral for a top six Championship finish, are on the cusp of signing highly-rated Arsenal academy product Benik Afobe following a successful loan spell at third-tier team MK Dons.

This will be a permanent move for the twice-capped England Under-21 international, and his fabulous form for the Dons, netting 19 times in 30 matches across all competitions, is what alerted Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett.

“We are pleased with his progress so far and his potential,” said Jackett of Afobe. “We feel he is ready to have a permanent home after several loans. Bringing him here and making sure he feels at home is going to be a big thing for Benik and I think he will repay us very well.

“He has a good scoring record in League One and is ready to step up to Championship football. He will help us in the second half of this season and the years to come. He has the pace, power and goal-scoring record that we need. He has proved an asset for MK Dons. He has got over his injury problems and is on a very good run.

“I watched him come through at Arsenal and have seen his progress up to the current time. At 21, he fits into the bracket we are looking for that can improve us.”

With Bakary Sako away with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, and compatriot Nouha Dicko stepping up his comeback from injury at Molineux, the arrival of Afobe does add an extra dimension to Wolves’ attack.

They have landed a player brimming with confidence, who started the campaign on fire. Afobe’s brace against Manchester United in the second round of the Capital One Cup helped to raise his profile.

Joining the Dons for the first half of the campaign was his sixth career loan spell, and a sense of permanence and regular first-team football should help Afobe to flourish.

Wolves are 7/1 shots for promotion, but that price will surely be cut in the weeks to come if Afobe digs up his purple patch at Stadium:mk and takes it to Molineux with him.