Transfer: Wolves open talks to sign Nigerian forward on Eric Chelle’s radar

Wolverhampton Wanderers are exploring a late move for Nigerian forward Philip Otele as they search for attacking reinforcements before the January transfer window closes, Soccernet.ng reports.

The West Midlands club are deep in relegation waters and are making a move for Otele to help revive a faltering Premier League campaign.

The 26-year-old, who is currently on loan at Swiss giants Basel, has emerged as a serious option for Wolves as they look to add goals and pace to a squad that has struggled badly this season.

BBC Sport football reporter Nizaar Kinsella reports that discussions have already taken place over the conditions of a possible deal, with the Midlands club assessing both a permanent transfer and a loan arrangement that would include a future purchase option.

Basel are believed to value Otele at around £7m, a figure that Wolves are reluctant to meet outright given their financial constraints and the uncertainty surrounding their top-flight status. As a result, a loan structure with a fee and an option to buy is being explored, though any move is likely to depend on Wolves offloading players first.

Otele is understood to be keen on a switch to the Premier League, and personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle despite interest from Birmingham, Fulham, Celtic and Lazio.

Wolves, however, remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just eight points from 22 matches and sit 14 points behind safety, a pointer to the scale of the task facing them in the second half of the season.

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Why Wolves see Nigeria’s Otele as a good fit

Since arriving at Basel, Otele has continued the strong scoring form that made him one of the most talked-about forwards in Eastern Europe.

Across his recent stints with CFR Cluj and now Basel, he has built a reputation as a direct, powerful wide forward with a reliable eye for goal. He has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists in 51 appearances for the Swiss club, numbers that have only increased his appeal across Europe.

Otele was included by head coach Eric Chelle in Nigeria’s provisional squad to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but he missed the final cut as the Super Eagles claimed bronze in Morocco.

Comfortable on either wing or through the middle, Otele offers the kind of flexibility Wolves’ attack has lacked. Naturally right-footed but often deployed from the left, he thrives on cutting inside and attacking the box, while also possessing the physical strength to cope with defenders.

Should the deal go through, Otele would link up with fellow Nigerian Tolu Arokodare at Molineux, adding another Super Eagles presence to a Wolves side desperate for goals, belief, and a spark to fuel what already looks like a daunting survival fight.