Transfer Centre

Gary O'Neil: 'Wolverhampton Wanderers don't need to sell their best players'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 21 February 2024

O'Neil: 'Wolves don't need to sell their best players'

Head coach Gary O'Neil says that Wolverhampton Wanderers do not need to sell any of their best players during the summer transfer window.

Head coach Gary O'Neil has dismissed suggestions that Wolverhampton Wanderers will need to sell at least one more of their star men during the summer transfer window.

Last year, owners Fosun International were open about their need to ensure that Wolves fulfilled the criteria to pass the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.

A wide array of sales were subsequently made, Wolves generating in the region of £140m through transfer fees and seeing a number of big-earners leave the club.

Further outgoings were facilitated in January without Wolves making a senior addition and substantial cutbacks have been made across the last two transfer windows in total.

However, reports persist that Wolves are still close to breaching FFP regulations and will have to cash in on a high-profile name such as winger Pedro Neto.

Pedro Neto celebrates scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against West Bromwich Albion on January 28, 2024. © Reuters

The Portugal international, who has two goals and nine assists from 16 Premier League fixtures during 2023-24, has been linked with a number of top-flight sides, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Any interested club would be expected to pay in excess of £50m, money that Wolves would be able to use to bolster the books as well as reinvest in different areas of the pitch.

Nevertheless, speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, O'Neil has insisted that it will take a mammoth offer for Wolves to consider cashing in on any of their first-teamers in the summer.

The Englishman said: "The good news on the player front is that we sold some last summer. We didn't sign many, we didn't spend anything in January.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil reacts after the match on January 22, 2024 © Reuters

"So financially we're in a place where we don't need to lose our best players - we don't need to lose any players. So that puts us in a better place than we were last summer initially, so we can make our own decisions on what is best for the club rather than what might need to be done.

"No-one will be leaving if it doesn't suit us. Obviously if top, top clubs come calling for players and the price is right and we think it's better for Wolves, then it will always be a consideration."

Wolves currently find themselves trying to earn a spot in Europe for 2024-25, either through the Premier League or the FA Cup.

O'Neil's side sit two points adrift of eighth place in the standings, which may be enough to earn continental football, while they host Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fifth round next week.