Wolves are heading into a crucial summer transfer window, with multiple outgoings expected as the club looks to balance its squad and finances.
So, who is likely to leave, and what areas need strengthening?
To break down Wolves’ summer plans and what fans can expect, we spoke to Charlie Haffenden of BirminghamWorld.
So, who is likely to leave, and what areas need strengthening?
To break down Wolves’ summer plans and what fans can expect, we spoke to Charlie Haffenden of BirminghamWorld.
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00:00Now, Wolves are heading into a crucial summer transfer window, with multiple outgoings expected
00:10as the club looks to balance its squad and finances.
00:15With financial constraints playing a role, some key players could be on the move, raising
00:20questions about how Wolves will rebuild under Vito Pereira.
00:26The club has shown plenty of promise this season at times, but smart recruitment will
00:31be essential as they ensure they remain competitive in the Premier League.
00:36So who is likely to leave and what areas need strengthening to break down Wolves' summer
00:42plans and what fans can expect?
00:44I spoke to Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World.
00:50So Charlie, looking at Wolves, and let's just touch on the relegation battle situation.
00:55Obviously, there's been a few times this season where they have relied on the likes
00:59of Ipswich and Leicester to go on and lose their games.
01:02The win at Southampton was huge for them.
01:04Jorgen Strand-Larsen getting a lot of confidence back as well, with a double as well.
01:08Really esteemed.
01:09And you look at his stats and you see that he scored nine Premier League goals this season.
01:13It might flatter him at times.
01:14I mean, he started the season really well, has been in and out, but that performance
01:19away could be really, really important to Wolves' survival hopes and hopefully gets
01:23the fans a bit more on board with the striker.
01:26Possible permanent deal looks likely for him.
01:29But in terms of that relegation battle, I mean, nine points clear, huge win away.
01:35There's still a lot to go, but it really puts him in a good position.
01:41It absolutely does.
01:42We were speaking ahead of the crucial three games against teams in the relegation zone.
01:46One of those has now been ticked off and it was a victory.
01:49Jorgen Strand-Larsen, as you say, being so important in that, getting back to confidence,
01:53getting those crucial goals and nine points, you think that probably is insurmountable
01:57at this point.
01:58But the way that the three teams down there, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton have been
02:02this year, I think it's unlikely they're going to reach that total full stop in the last
02:07games remaining.
02:08And that would require Wolves to drop every single point available.
02:11I just can't see a world now where Wanderers don't stay in the Premier League for another
02:15season.
02:16Of course, there is still time to go.
02:17There could be plenty of surprises.
02:19The Premier League is very unpredictable at times.
02:21We've seen that over the years in the past with miraculous escapes from relegation, but
02:25nine points, such a big buffer now.
02:27And if anything, I think you'll build more momentum and push on forward.
02:30Yes, let's just touch on Vito Pereira, I mean, in his post-match press conference, he said
02:36that he was, you know, come in and he's really embraced the culture.
02:39He wants to go to the pubs with the fans and enjoy the win.
02:43I mean, that's the sort of culture that Wolves are all about.
02:46And I mean, having him, he's really adapted and adjusted.
02:48I mean, you saw the impact Nuno Espirito Santo had on the city, becoming a sort of
02:53doctorate with the university and stuff like that.
02:56I mean, it seems like he's the first manager since Nuno to have this same grasp over the
03:00fans and they are really appreciated of it.
03:03It's funny you say that because when you were talking about his personality just then, I
03:07thought this is the first time you've kind of seen that personality from a Wolves boss
03:11since Nuno.
03:12I mean, I know Gary O'Neill was friendly enough and he was approachable enough, but he didn't
03:15quite have that same level of passion and connection with the supporters that Nuno did,
03:20obviously.
03:21And then you've got Vito Pereira, still early days, but I think escaping the relegation
03:25battle considering how precarious it looked at one stage when he came in to do it by such
03:30a margin, or at least likely to be such a margin, is a great achievement.
03:33Lopetegui, he did similar, but didn't quite have that connection, as I say.
03:37It's just that passion and being open and making these little jokes, these little anecdotes
03:41here and there, talking about going to the pub.
03:43It does make a difference.
03:44I know it's away from the football itself.
03:46You'd rather get results than the personality, but to have a mix of the two is a huge boost
03:50for Wolves.
03:51Yeah, I think it's going to be a little bit of a difficult start to the summer, at least.
03:55I expect Mateus Cunha probably will move on for his release clause, but £62.5m is a lot
04:00of money that Wolves can go and reinvest.
04:02Ryan Aitnouri potentially could leave as well on the left-hand side.
04:06You've got Nelson Samedo out on the right, his contract coming to an end.
04:10These are vital players that Wolves could lose.
04:12It's important they keep hold of the likes of Joao Gomes and Andre in midfield.
04:16I think if they can stick around, that could be a nice core of the team in midfield.
04:20But if they have been dominant in the Premier League this season, he's not quite happy with
04:24how they're doing up top.
04:26Jota could be on the way out.
04:28Could we see him back at Molineux?
04:29I think it would be incredibly positive if he did come back.
04:33Would he make the drop down?
04:34I'm not too sure, but he had such an amazing connection with the fan base.
04:38He would be a star player if he did come back, and maybe we could see it.
04:41It would be nice.