Football League World
·9 July 2024
Football League World
·9 July 2024
Wolves striker Leon Chiwome is on the radar of Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, although it's unclear whether he will be allowed to leave on loan.
Hull City and Blackburn Rovers are both keeping tabs on Wolves’ Leon Chiwome as they wait to see whether the Premier League side will loan out the striker.
The 18-year-old joined Wanderers from AFC Wimbledon in 2022, and he has gone on to impress in the club’s academy, whilst Chiwome has also represented England at youth level.
An injury crisis at Molineux gave the teeanger a chance in the first-team last season, as he featured in four games for Gary O’Neil’s side before injury cut his campaign short.
Even though he failed to score, Chiwome did look lively, with his pace and mobility offering Wolves a threat up top, and he has been rewarded for his development with a new, long-term deal in the Black Country.
With Jorgen Strand Larsen joining Wolves, along with the injury situation easing, it’s understandably going to be difficult for Chiwome to get near the XI again next season.
Therefore, a potential loan move could be on the cards, and journalist Ben Jacobs told Give Me Sport that Blackburn and Hull are monitoring the situation, although it’s not thought that a decision is imminent on Chiwome’s future.
“Wolves will also assess Leon Chiwome during pre-season after the 18-year-old recently signed a new deal. He could get more first-team opportunities this season, although there is loan interest from Blackburn Rovers and Hull City. A decision will be taken in the coming weeks.”
It would be a surprise if Chiwome did stay at Wolves if there is Championship interest, as he’s going to find it difficult to get game time, so allowing him to play regularly in the second tier would make more sense.
In truth, it was mismanagement by Wolves' hierarchy that left the side so short on attacking options last season, which gave Chiwome, and fellow academy lad Nathan Fraser, their opportunities.
But, the arrival of Larsen proves they won’t be repeating that mistake, meaning most of Chiwome’s football is going to come with the U23s.
You can understand why O’Neil wants to assess the striker over the coming weeks, but if Hull and Blackburn are offering him the chance to get minutes, it would look like a great deal for all parties.
The interest in Chiwome is understandable, because he is someone who has scored goals regularly at U23 level and for England’s youth sides.
Of course, the Championship is a massive step up in intensity and quality, but he has qualities to be able to cope, and sometimes it’s about placing trust in these younger players and seeing how they cope.
Whether Chiwome is the answer is up for debate, but there’s no denying that both Hull and Blackburn need more options in attack, so their interest is understandable.
With Rovers, there’s an expectation that Sammie Szmodics will depart, and losing the top scorer from the Championship last season will be a big blow, so John Eustace will then need a few more sources for goals.
Meanwhile, Hull have seen Liam Delap return to Man City, and Jaden Philogene is expected to depart, and whilst the latter isn’t a number nine, it means they will also be looking to add new attacking threats to the squad.