Expert issues verdict on Diego Costa passing Wolves medical – ‘this is big’
Diego Costa must prove he is ready to hit the ground running before he completes a move to Wolves.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Costa has been a free agent since the expiration of his contract with Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro in January last year.
The Athletic reported last Sunday (4 September) that the 33-year-old centre-forward was set to undergo a medical at Wolves.
The news comes after it was confirmed that new signing Sasa Kalajdzic had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
But, as relayed by The Guardian on Tuesday (6 September), Wolves have been forced to launch an appeal after Costa’s first work permit application was rejected.
Dinnery explained how the former Chelsea hitman’s fitness will be assessed if he is able to complete a move to Molineux.
“This is a big one following the ACL injury to their new signing, which will likely keep him out for the rest of the campaign,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“The weight of that attack has been shifted to Raul Jimenez, who we know post-head-injury hasn’t been able to hit those heights.
“Wolves are struggling to convert chances, so they need a new striker to come in and hit the ground running.
“Costa hasn’t played competitively since December 2021. So, providing he gets through the medical rigmarole, they will also want to make sure that he is in a position to be integrated into the first-team environment.
“We’re talking about basic assessments, really. Body fat will be a big thing in terms of understanding where he is in terms of his fitness and weight. Fatigue and output can be dramatically impacted by weight.
“Flexibility, strength, power, and speed are all important. Aerobic output and anaerobic output too because we know the physical demands of the Premier League.
“It will be a battery of tests to get an overview of his fitness. It won’t be anything too startling.
“We might see some vertical jump tests, repeated sprints, agility sprints. They will involve quick changes of direction and bursts of pace.”
In other news, ex-Premier League referee “shudders” as controversial Pedro Neto footage emerges from Wolves.