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Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced the signing of Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic in a £15.4million deal from Bundesliga side Stuttgart.
Bruno Lage will hope the 6ft 7in forward can ease his problems up front with Wolves possessing the second-worst record in the Premier League this season with two points and just two goals in four games.
Kalajdzic, 25, managed 16 goals in his debut Bundesliga season in 2020/21, before missing much of the last campaign through injury.
The Austria international was left out of Stuttgart’s squad for their 0-0 draw with Cologne at the weekend as he prepared for the transfer.
Wolves technical director Scott Sellars said: “We are very happy to secure the signing of Sasa, who is a talented young striker, has many excellent attributes to his game and fits the profile that we have been looking for this summer.
“Sasa has had great success in Germany’s Bundesliga, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do in the Premier League.”
Kalajdzic has four goals in 15 games for Austria, most notably scoring against Italy at Euro 2020 in the last 16.
Since that tournament former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has taken over as Austria manager, and advised Kalajdzic against a move to Old Trafford earlier in the window.
Rangnick was asked about reported interest from United earlier in the window and told talkSPORT it would be better for his striker to stay put.
“It is important that Sasa remains injury-free this season and trains and plays at the highest possible level,” he said.
“If he stays in Stuttgart this season, it will not be detrimental to his development.”
The timely signing should help provide Wolves with more firepower after the side struggled in the previous two Premier League campaigns.
Lage’s side managed 38 goals in 38 games last time out, and just 36 in the previous campaign with no player scoring more than six goals in either season.
Raul Jimenez, who found the net 27 times in 2019/20 has become a less reliable asset upfront, while Hee-chan Hwang signed permanently for £15m this summer, but hasn’t yet found the net this season.
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