Wolverhampton Wanderers were hoping to sign Iran star Sardar Azmoun before the January deadline passed, but it appears that they are set to miss out on his signature.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Wolves have failed to come to an agreement with Rubin Kazan over the signing of the player dubbed 'Iranian Messi'.

The report claims that Rubin Kazan wanted a loan deal to include an obligation to buy clause but Wolves were only willing to include an option to buy.

The 24-year-old's decent record at club and international level will naturally be lending reason for supporters to feel disappointed, but with Raul Jimenez's long-term future yet to be secured the club's hierarchy should turn their attention towards sealing a permanent deal for him instead.

It took Jimenez a short while to get to grips with the demands of the Premier League, but he has slowly begun to establish himself as a top talent at this level.

Wolves opted to sign Jimenez on loan in the summer window in a deal, with a £30 million option to buy clause inserted as part of the deal (as per Express and Star).

The quoted price would, for most supporters at least, have been sniffed at during the early stages of the season, but Jimenez's development suggests he possesses all of the attributes needed to thrive at the spearhead of Nuno's attack: he is a fantastic link-up player in the final-third, a strong hold-up man, possesses a commanding aerial presence and, perhaps most importantly, a solid finisher.

There have been times this season when Jimenez's finishing has been lacking, but a return of 10 goals from 26 appearances, including strikes against Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool, proves that he has the firepower to justify a £30 million price-tag.

Azmoun, on the other hand, represented a much greater risk. The 24-year-old may well have scored 27 goals in 43 for the Iran national team but he has no experience in any of Europe's top leagues.

He has made a name for himself in Russian football and commands a sensationalist comparison with Messi, but a return of just 17 goals from 77 appearances at Rubin Kazan is hardly the type of return to suggest he could make the step up to Premier League football.

On paper, despite his flashes of brilliance, Azmoun is too lightweight and inexperienced to operate at the spearhead of Nuno's attack and adapt to the demands of English football, so Wolves' failure to clinch a deadline day deal should not be viewed as anything more than a minor setback at most.

The key for Wolves now is to invest their financial efforts into concluding a permanent deal for the vastly superior Jimenez.

Considering the relationship the Mexico international has established with Nuno, his teammates and the supporters, along with the reported option to buy clause, it's fair to say Wolves are in pole position to clinch his signature this summer, even if a rival bidder comes calling.

Wolves fans - thoughts? Let us know below!