Jelle van Damme a coup for Wolves

Jelle Van Damme signing for Wolves is a significant moment for manager Mick McCarthy.

McCarthy's challenge this summer is to further improve his team without spending the fortunes available to many of its Premier League rivals.

The club will spend, of course, and it marks something of a changing climate at Molineux that a £2.5million deal for a defender will be greeted with just a pinch of indifference by supporters.

Yes, there are bigger transfers to come. But the financial boundaries of the Van Damme acquisition are typical of the area the Wolves boss must work in trying to make his squad bigger, better, stronger and quicker.

His efforts down in this hazardous mid-to-lower-range of the transfer market drew enough success to ensure Wolves duly survived a Premier League campaign that tested every sinew of a group of players still emerging towards the peak days of their careers.

But the manager knows that he has to do even better this summer and so it falls upon the Belgian international to help prove that his new manager's touch in the market grows ever more sure.

Van Damme's career CV suggests a player whose abilities have always been recognised without his so far delivering the necessary level of consistency.

The 26-year-old has already had one crack at the Premier League, with a struggling and ultimately relegated Southampton team five years ago.

Ajax, Werder Bremen and Anderlecht are hardly minnows of the European stage and all have taken a punt on Van Damme throughout 'the Noughties.'

Only back in his homeland with Anderlecht has Van Damme finally settled to produce the football which earned him international caps and McCarthy's attention.

His Southampton spell was restricted to six games partly through injury, partly through his inexperience in a difficult season, but the 6ft 4in defender who has now eagerly grabbed a second bite of the English cherry with Wolves is convinced this time he is ready.

Van Damme brings a presence that threatens most Stephen Ward and George Elokobi as Van Damme sees left back as his best position, although he can turn his hand to central defence and even midfield.

But the player was sold on Wolves from the moment he watched the last game of the campaign against Sunderland and saw Molineux celebrate the efforts of the current group in steering the club to safety.

He said: "As a player it can be an advantage to play in more than one position, but I think my best position is the full back position on the left hand side.

"But it goes without saying I'll be happy to play anywhere. I think Wolves is a warm and friendly club.

"I had an image of the club before I came and the moment I saw the stadium and the training ground and all the facilities it all seemed very professional.

"I think there is also potential here as well. I just had a really good feeling about everything and that was enough.

"I've met with the manager a few times and we've also spoken on the phone. I think he's a great person and coach and it has been good with him from the start. I know Adlene and Mujangi Bia from playing against them when they were with Charleroi.

"I spoke with both of then when I was here for the Sunderland game and they are both very happy to be here also."

Van Damme has signed a three year deal with an option for a fourth and will be joined by his young wife Elker Clijsters, a former tennis player herself if not quite to the standard of her famous sister Kim, and their infant son Leo Cruz.

These, then, will be the most demanding days of his career, settling a young family into a new environment while tackling opponents in one of the world's most demanding leagues. All at a time when the pressure for Wolves to stay in the top flight has never been more fierce.

Finding new recruits who can cope with that throws extra onus on the background checks that are now a key element of any transfer, but chief executive Jez Moxey has never been more impressed by the personality of a potential signing.

He said: "Jelle is a winner, having won two League titles and the cup in four years with Anderlecht. In fact, he scored in the game that clinched the title for them.

"The most pleasing thing about this deal is that from the first time we spoke to the player he really wanted to come.

"From that moment he never wavered, even with lots of interest from other clubs - that showed us his commitment to wanting to join Wolves."

By Martin Swain