Transfer Centre

What is Wolverhampton Wanderers' top priority for the summer transfer window?

By Jonathan O'Shea | 13 June 2023

What is Wolves' top priority for the summer transfer window?

Ahead of the summer transfer window opening on Wednesday, Sports Mole looks at the priority for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the transfer market over the next few months.

Keep Julen Lopetegui at all costs.

Recent rumblings from those around the Basque boss have made it clear that he will only continue at Molineux on the terms he agreed to - which means more investment in players this summer.

He has also let it be known that wants his squad together for pre-season training at the start of July with new signings already secured, but several factors make that a tough task for the Wolves board to complete.

They have to balance the books to comply with Financial Fair Play restrictions, while replacing the likes of Ruben Neves and Adama Traore, should they depart, will surely not come cheap.

Fosun International, the Chinese conglomerate which runs the Black Country club, had laid out plans for Wolves becoming self-sufficient, but with FFP regulations coming into play following a big splurge in January, the next few weeks could be tricky to traverse.

The accrued experience of Joao Moutinho, Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa may also be lost, though that would clear a substantial chunk of the wage bill, and above all else, Lopetegui will want to bring in a reliable striker after Wolves' forwards failed to fire again in 2022-23.

Either the expensively-acquired trio of Matheus Cunha, Matheus Nunes and Goncalo Guedes must adapt to the rigours of the Premier League or be shipped back out, otherwise another season of strife could be on the cards next term.