Sardar Azmoun’s January move to Wolves fell through but he bags brace on first start for Zenit

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Wolverhampton Wanderers nearly completed the signing of striker Sardar Azmoun in the January transfer window.

According to Sky Sports News, the move collapsed because Rubin Kazan wanted his loan to include an obligation to buy, while Wolves were only interested in an option to buy.

Wolves had agreed a £1.7m loan fee with a proposed £11.5m permanent deal in the summer but the move fell through at the last hurdle.

Instead of securing a switch to the Premier League, Azmoun stayed in Russia and joined Zenit St Petersburg.

And he has already endeared himself to fans in just his second appearance for the club.

The 24-year-old started for the first time for Zenit as the Russian top division side tried to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

And Azmoun was the hero as he netted a brace to help Zenit to a 3-1 win and a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The Iran international is nicknamed the ‘Iranian Messi’ back in his home country and he is already showing Zenit fans what he can do.

Wolves could have used Azmoun to provide competition for Raul Jimenez, bolstering their attacking options for the second half of the season.

But signing Azmoun in the near-future now looks unlikely as he signed a three-and-a-half year deal at Zenit, where he is already impressing.