Transfer Centre

Julen Lopetegui 'wants Wolverhampton Wanderers to make six signings in January'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 16 December 2022

Lopetegui 'wants Wolves to make six signings'

New Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Julen Lopetegui is reportedly keen to sign six new players during the January transfer window.

Julen Lopetegui has reportedly informed Wolverhampton Wanderers that he would like to sign as many as six players during the January transfer window.

Despite parting company with Bruno Lage on October 2, it took until November 14 for Wolves to finalise the appointment of Lopetegui due to personal reasons and a failure to secure a deal for then-Queens Park Rangers boss Michael Beale.

However, in attracting Lopetegui to Molineux, the club's hierarchy have secured their first-choice candidate as they bid to move off the bottom of the Premier League table.

As well as overseeing friendlies with Empoli and Cadiz over the break for the World Cup, the Spaniard has been identifying targets for the turn of the year.

The former Sevilla boss head coach has openly admitted that he has asked the Wolves board to move for Atletico Madrid pair Felipe and Matheus Cunha.

Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring for Atletico Madrid in May 2022 © Reuters

With a number of Premier League sides also said to be keen on the latter, a deal now looks less likely in comparison to earlier in the month.

Nevertheless, according to BBC Sport, Lopetegui is keen to make wholesale changes to his squad at the midway point of the season.

The report claims that Wolves would like to have three players signed and ready to represent the club from January 1, aware of their need to collect points as soon as possible.

As well as at least one new centre-back and centre-forward, Lopetegui is said to want to bring in another physically-imposing player for midfield.

Ruben Neves in action for Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 1, 2022 © Reuters

Lopetegui currently has Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Joao Moutinho and Boubacar Traore as his primary options in that area of the pitch, but speculation persists that Neves will depart in one of the upcoming transfer windows.

Moutinho turned 36 years of age in September and is no longer regarded as an automatic first choice, while club-record signing Nunes is yet to overly convince since joining from Sporting Lisbon in August.

Wolves return to competitive action on Tuesday with an EFL Cup fourth-round tie with Gillingham, yet it is their testing schedule after that fixture which will occupy more of Lopetegui's attention.

Fixtures against Everton, Manchester United and Aston Villa come in the Premier League before a trip to face Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 7.