Michael Jacobs - Wolves (undisclosed fee)
[article=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/wolves-take-the-michael-080114-1281111.aspx#8AyU00lVv86X3jkm.99]Michael Jacobs has
sealed a permanent move to Wolves after revealing his loan spell at Molineux has “rekindled his love of football”.
The
22-year-old winger moves
from Derby for an undisclosed fee and has put pen to paper on a
two-and-a-half year deal, with a further year’s option in the club’s favour.
Having enjoyed his spell with the Rams, Jacobs found first team opportunities limited at Pride Park hence his delight at getting regular football during his Wolves loan spell in which he has made nine appearances, scoring one goal.
Jacobs, who completed the final stages of his medical last night, says:
“I feel I have got better with every game and have enjoyed having that consistency with playing.
“I’ve benefitted from having four games in eight days over Christmas as well.
“I feel like I’ve rekindled my love for football again which maybe I’d lost a little over the last six to eight months.
“Being given an opportunity here has helped me and I feel I’m playing with a lot more confidence.
“I have always had faith in my ability but when you are not playing regularly you do wonder whether you are good enough.
“Getting an opportunity as I have done here has filled me with confidence.
“I leave Derby with good memories.
“I would class it as a learning curve for me going from League Two football into the Championship.
“I was playing alongside some top class players and it made me grow up.
“The lads there were great and I made some very good friends.
“The experience I had with Derby has been very important for me and I think it was a time in footballing-terms when I turned from a boy into a man.
“They were good times and I will miss a lot of the people there but I think it is the right time in my career to take on a new challenge at Wolves.
“I think it is the place to be at the moment for me.”
Whilst there was no agreement in place for a permanent deal at the start of Jacobs’ loan spell, he has revealed that the carrot was dangled by Head Coach Kenny Jackett that if he impressed, Wolves would try and do a deal.
“At the start of the loan the gaffer said to me he wanted me to come here and prove I deserved a permanent move,” said the winger.
“It was never set in stone from the off but I’m delighted that I’ve managed to achieve it.
“Initially it was a chance to come and play some games which I have really enjoyed and the boys have made me feel really welcome.
“I’m really delighted.
“I first heard last week that it might be in the pipeline but with all the games taking place over Christmas and New Year it was difficult to get all the discussions done.
“So it was all in the background a little bit until the window re-opened and my loan was up.
“I’m really pleased to have turned my loan into a permanent move and have really enjoyed playing some football here.
“Hopefully now I can pick up from where I have left off over the last few weeks and produce some decent performances.”
And Jacobs is confident that he is joining Wolves at an exciting time as Jackett continues to reshape the squad with promotion the season’s aim.
He adds:
“There is a lot of hard work to be done but I think at a club like Wolves if you can get up once there is the potential to go again.
“Promotion has to be our main objective this season and anything else would be a major disappointment.
“These are exciting times and I think with the new lads that come in there is a fresh impetus.
“The young lads that have come in have done well too – the likes of Ethan and Jack Price since I came in.
“With that blend of youth and experienced and adding new faces to the squad here already, I think the gaffer is building a really good squad.
“We should be capable of being up at the top end of League One pushing for promotion.
“I know there have been a couple of bad years for the club and for the fans but the feeling I get now is that the only place it is heading is up.
“We’ve just got to make sure we start picking up some decent results and get on a good run in the next few weeks.”[/article]