Tolu Arokodare finds himself at a critical point in his first Premier League season, fighting for minutes under a new Wolverhampton Wanderers manager while interest from Turkish giants Fenerbahce grows ahead of the January window. The Nigerian forward arrived with goal-scoring pedigree from Belgium, yet a difficult team environment and a demanding tactical shift have left his path uncertain and his next decision highly consequential.
From Belgium brilliance to Premier League reality
Arokodare earned his move after an outstanding campaign in Belgium, finishing as the Jupiler Pro League top scorer with 21 goals in 40 games, a haul that also brought him the prestigious Ebony Shoe as the best player of African origin in the league. That form convinced Wolves to invest, and he joined the Molineux club in the summer with expectations of adding a new dimension up front.
The step up has been steep. Across the opening months of the season, he has largely featured from the bench and has not been able to lock down a starting berth. His Premier League involvement has been limited to seven appearances and barely more than 200 minutes, a modest return for a player whose confidence and rhythm depend on consistent minutes.
A new coach and a tougher puzzle at Molineux
Wolves have turned to Rob Edwards to reset a winless league campaign, and the former club defender has leaned into a high pressing approach with three at the back. Reports indicate he prefers structures like 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2, often using two forwards and asking his front line to trigger the press while protecting transitions.
On paper, that shape could accommodate Arokodare alongside Jorgen Strand Larsen. In practice, the Norwegian remains the preferred option given experience and relative form, leaving the Nigerian to continue in a supporting role. Complicating matters further, Wolves have a shortage of pace and dribbling after key summer departures, which tightens selection choices and places a premium on mobility in wide and second striker positions.
Numbers that tell a difficult story
Wolves sit at the bottom of the table with only two points from their first 11 matches, a context that frames any selection call. For Arokodare, the metrics underline the challenge. He is yet to score in seven league appearances and, according to WhoScored data, features in the Premier League’s lowest rated team so far with a 5.98 rating, the lowest among outfield players in that eleven.
That same composite XI also includes Wolves teammates José Sá and Toti Gomes, which speaks to a broader team struggle rather than an isolated issue. When a team chases its first league win, even talented forwards can find touches scarce and confidence fragile.
Fenerbahce interest and what a move could unlock
Amid this backdrop, Fenerbahce are studying the market for a striker and have identified Arokodare as a compelling profile. The Istanbul club value his physical presence and aerial power, attributes they believe could add a new dimension to their attack. They are targeting a long term replacement for their primary striker, Talisca, who is expected to depart at the end of the season.
Reports in Turkey suggest Fenerbahce are considering a January loan with an option to buy, a structure that could offer the forward immediate minutes and a platform to reset his season. It remains unclear if Wolves would sanction a mid season exit, especially while fighting to climb out of the relegation zone and restructure under a new coach.
Why minutes remain hard to find
Several forces are shaping Arokodare’s week to week reality at Wolves. The manager’s tactical blueprint, the internal pecking order, and the squad’s skill mix have all drawn the lines within which he must operate. The outline looks like this
- the system under Rob Edwards prioritises pressing triggers, quick transitions and protection in wide channels,
- the presence of Jorgen Strand Larsen as the preferred centre forward narrows the pathway to starts,
- the lack of pace and one v one dribbling following departures reduces the margin for a target forward to thrive.
The human layer for a Super Eagles striker
There is a personal dimension to this moment, and it matters. Arokodare’s confidence was forged in Belgium, where goals came regularly and the spotlight shone kindly. In England’s top flight, the spotlight can be harsher when chances are few. The forward is intent on adapting and pushing for more opportunities in the coming months, keeping an eye on his role for the Super Eagles while he fights for relevance at the club level.
Football careers do not move in straight lines. For a young striker who joined for a significant fee, patience and tactical flexibility become as important as instinct in the box. Every substitute appearance is an audition, every aerial duel a message to the coaches about what he can offer within the structure.
How Fenerbahce could tailor the fit
Fenerbahce’s interest is not just speculative, it is built on a clear footballing logic. The club appear to want a different reference point up front, someone who can dominate in the air, pin defenders and bring runners into the game. In such a role, Arokodare’s profile aligns neatly. A loan with option to buy would also mitigate risk while giving the striker a defined runway to prove his value.
The Turkish side are planning for life after Talisca, and a striker with Arokodare’s tools can be a long term investment as much as a short term boost. For the player, regular minutes in a leading Super Lig side could reignite the momentum that carried him out of Belgium’s top flight.
What Wolves stand to weigh
Even with modest returns so far, letting a striker go in January is not a simple call for a team in trouble. Wolves need depth for a survival battle and, as the new coach refines his plan, roles can evolve quickly. The question is whether keeping Arokodare as an impact option outweighs the benefits of a move that could refresh his confidence and free wages or a future fee.
There is also the chemistry angle. A pressing system rises and falls on collective timing, and forwards must synchronise with wing backs and attacking midfielders. If Edwards believes that chemistry is building with current choices, he may prefer stability, even if that means slower minutes for the Nigerian forward.
The Larsen factor
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s status shapes the immediate picture. He has held the starting shirt and his profile suits the current demands. For Arokodare, that means the pathway often begins from the bench, even in systems designed for two strikers. The competition is internal and unrelenting, and breaking that hierarchy requires either a shift in form or a tactical tweak that leans more heavily into his aerial strengths.
In a season where margins are thin, the smallest moments can push a player into the eleven. A decisive header late in a match, a clever layoff that releases a runner, a screen that opens a lane for a teammate, these are the touches that change conversations in the analysis room.
Reading the data with context
Being listed in a lowest rated team by a statistics site is sobering, yet it rarely tells the whole story. Ratings can be heavily influenced by team performance and role, and in a side chasing its first win, the bar for attacking outputs rises while the supply can shrink. The WhoScored snapshot is a symptom of the larger issues at Wolves, as underlined by the presence of José Sá and Toti Gomes in the same selection.
The more important data points for a coaching staff often live within game models, aerial duels won, pressing actions, positional discipline and link play. Those nuances, if improved, can quickly shift the external narrative and make a strong case for more minutes.
What next for Arokodare
The timeline is tight, and the January window is close enough to influence current decisions. Arokodare can stay and scrap for incrementally larger roles as Rob Edwards settles the team, or he can embrace a switch that promises starts and a tailored role abroad. The presence of concrete interest from Fenerbahce, including a potential loan with option to buy, gives real shape to the alternatives.
Whether he stays to fight for every minute or seeks a fresh spark in Istanbul, Arokodare’s next step will be about fit as much as ambition, and about finding the platform that lets his strengths breathe.
The bottom line
This is a crossroads that blends football tactics with human resilience. Wolves are rebuilding their identity under a new coach, and Arokodare is seeking the stage that best amplifies his power in the air, his presence in the box and his scoring instincts. Fenerbahce see value, Wolves need solutions, and the striker wants minutes that matter. The coming weeks will reveal which of those needs speaks loudest, and where the next chapter begins.
Key facts at a glance
- Wolves are bottom with two points from 11 Premier League matches,
- Arokodare has seven league appearances with limited minutes and no league goals so far,
- Fenerbahce are considering a January loan with option to buy as they plan for life after Talisca.
All insights in this article are drawn from the Pulse Sports reporting on Wolves, Fenerbahce and the Premier League data landscape cited therein.
