Wolfsburg ‘interested’ in Hwang Hee-chan after he tasted EPL goal in new season.
Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who became the first South Korean national team striker to score a goal in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, is attracting interest from Wolfsburg (Germany), according to local reports.
British sports media outlets Sky Sports and the Daily Mail reported on July 21 (KST), “German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are looking at Hwang Hee-chan. They want to negotiate for the signing of Hwang Hee-chan.”
Hwang scored his first goal of the 2023-2024 season in the second round home match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Nov. 19.
After coming on for Fabio Silva in the 10th minute of the second half, Hwang rattled the net with a header from a cross from the right flank on a corner kick just six minutes after taking the field.
It was the first Korean goal in the EPL in a season that has been quiet for his international teammates, including regular starter Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) and Hwang Eui-jo (Nottingham Forest).
Hwang Hee-chan has been limited in playing time, coming off the bench in both matches following the first-leg loss to Manchester United, but he has been the most impressive of Wolverhampton’s attacking options.
His trademark straightforward runs and acceleration have been revitalized. It’s even more encouraging to see that he has completely shaken off the ankle injury that plagued him for most of last season.
If the deal goes through as reported, Hwang will return to the Bundesliga for the first time in two years. Hwang moved to England in 2021 when he joined Wolverhampton on loan from Leipzig (Germany).
However, it remains to be seen if the move will actually happen. Wolverhampton manager Gary O’Neill is struggling to find a forward line after the departure of Diego Costa and Adama Traore from the club last season.
He’s been experimenting with different combinations, including playing Mateusz Cunha up front and moving Sarabia, who usually plays in the second line, up front, but Wolverhampton have lost their opening two games in a row after struggling to score goals.
Wolverhampton have scored just one goal in those two games, and it came from Hwang Hee-chan.
Wolfsburg is rated as a mid-table team in the Bundesliga. They finished 12th in the 2021-2022 season and 8th in the 2022-2023 season.
Veteran midfielder Koo Ja-cheol, formerly of K League 1 Jeju United, 먹튀검증 played for the team from 2011 to 2014.