Today, it is officially one year since Wolves completed a transfer deal for Mario Lemina – and simply put, it is one of the best bits of business the club have done in years.
In January 2023, Wanderers were in a very precarious position.
Wolves were at the bottom of the Premier League table, and had a lot of work to do to get away from danger.
But there was optimism, with Julen Lopetegui arriving at Molineux just ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Lopetegui would prove to be a successful appointment, guiding the club to eventual safety with a few games to spare.
His job was made easier though thanks to the business the club did in the transfer window – with the signing of Mario Lemina proving absolutely vital…
Mario Lemina is the best Wolves signing in years, and Matt Hobbs’ best move as sporting director.
When Lemina signed for £10 million from Nice, there wasn’t really too much fanfare.
It was seen as a fairly low-risk signing, but no one really felt Wolves had landed an absolutely top player.
Some rather felt he would just be a rotational option, with the likes of Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Joao Moutinho the preferred options in midfield.
But it did not take long for Lemina to show what he is now all about.
His performance against Liverpool on February 4 at Molineux when Wolves won 3-0 was nothing short of amazing, and was an early suggestion the club had actually signed a serious player.
Throughout 2023, Lemina delivered a string of top-class performances for Wolves, bringing the energy, dynamism and bite that none of the other midfield options could.
His contributions in helping Wolves to stay up were plentiful, and this season the Gabon international has gone to a completely different level.
Seemingly fuelled by wanting to take over Ruben Neves’ mantle, Lemina has been the main man this season for Wolves, starting all the Premier League games he’s been available for. The only times he’s missed out have been because of suspension and compassionate leave.
We all know at this point how good Lemina is defensively. His ball-winning and tackling are undoubtedly his best traits.
This season though Lemina has shown there’s a lot more to his game, and the 30-year-old has a very impressive four goals to his name, including one very late winner against Tottenham Hotspur.
Lemina isn’t just brilliant on the pitch though.
We’ve seen fans really take to him for the person he is too. He gained massive respect from fans everywhere when he made the day of young Wolves fan Frazer – who is blind – back in April.
Journalist Liam Keen has also previously reported that Lemina is adored in the dressing room and has had a huge impact thanks to his big personality.
Huge credit must go to Matt Hobbs for Lemina’s signing. The sporting director is obviously hugely involved with transfers in and out of Molineux, and bringing in the midfielder warrior has helped to totally transform the team and club as a whole.
Hobbs has done a string of good deals since becoming sporting director in November 2022 – but the Lemina signing is surely his finest work so far.
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