Kenny Jackett: Benik Afobe wanted to leave Wolves

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett said the club reluctantly accepted Bournemouth's offer for Benik Afobe, but that the player had expressed a desire to leave.

Afobe is on the verge of a £10m move to the Premier League side.

It comes just a few months after a strongly-worded statement by the club insisting that Afobe wouldn't be sold this season, with the player himself then stating he had 'unfinished business' at Wolves in September, after three bids from Norwich City were rejected, the last being £10m.

What has changed since then?

Jackett said: "There's two things that have greatly influenced us. One's Benik's desire to take up the opportunity, he had a desire last summer to go into the Premier League, and I don't think personally he's quite looked the same lad he was last year.

"And then again his desire in this window to take the opportunity to go to the Premier League again. That was the number one reason.

"Obviously in that time the club has been put up for sale and that changes the financial landscape, while Steve will never let the club fall away."

Did Afobe state that he wouldn't be happy to stay at the club?

"No, he didn't say he wouldn't be happy to stay," Jackett said.

"In the last window he said if there were Premier League options he'd like to take them, he didn't tell us what the consequences would be, necessarily, if that didn't happen, but he did state that.

"Once he knew of Bournemouth's interest and knew they were making a significant bid then again he expressed his desire to move on."

Has Jackett being given assurances that the full amount of the prospective Afobe money will be reinvested in the team?

He said: "It hasn't been discussed, we haven't discussed exactly how much, it depends how much individuals players cost and where that collates with wage demands.

"Which, for that particular position, and in our position, can be quite significant and change the dynamics of a financial landscape within a club."

And what of replacing the striker?

"We're obviously looking to move into the market and replace Benik," Jackett said.

"It's with reluctance we accept the offer.

"We want to be positive as a club, try to improve our squad wherever we can.

"With Bjorn Sigurdarson's injury you don't need to be a genius to see where we need to strengthen.

"We certainly have our targets in terms of positions and numbers of players."