Wolverhampton Wanderers had already been getting ready for an active summer transfer window even before Manchester United officially confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha on Sunday.
Following a 16th-place finish in the Premier League, Vitor Pereira is aiming to assert his influence on the first-team squad as he looks to guide the club toward a mid-table spot next season.
Sports Mole examines Wolves’ potential strategy for the summer transfer window and highlights some of their possible targets.
Top targets
At the moment, it’s uncertain which players Wolves have specifically targeted, though their interest in several Velez Sarsfield talents has been the most publicized.
There is also a long-standing interest in Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto, a player Wolves had been eyeing even before his former manager Pereira took charge at the club.
It’s unclear if a deal will materialize, but with Cunha now at Manchester United, Wolves are actively searching for adaptable attackers who can operate in the number 10 role.
They may also need to find a new left wing-back, as Manchester City appear to be intensifying their pursuit of Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Additionally, Wolves could be in the market for another central midfielder, a striker, and possibly two full-backs, especially with several players expected to leave the club.
Budgets
Although Pereira will have funds available this summer, it’s important not to assume he’ll have a large transfer budget solely due to Cunha’s departure and the likely sale of Ait-Nouri.
Around £40–45 million was already spent on three new signings during the January window, and Wolves are activating a €30 million (£25.31 million) option to permanently sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo.
The fee from Cunha’s transfer will be paid in three instalments, meaning Wolves will receive just over £20 million this summer. Additionally, 50% of any fee from Ait-Nouri’s sale will go to his former club, Angers.
This makes calculating Wolves’ overall budget complicated. However, the club did generate over £100 million from player sales across the last two windows.
On top of that, offloading three high-salary players could free up around £200,000 per week in wages, giving the club more flexibility in the market.
Most likely signings
This remains undecided, and Wolves may take their time with new signings as they continue talks over Rayan Ait-Nouri’s potential move to Manchester City.
However, Pereira has suggested that he has pinpointed some unnamed Portuguese players who could be brought in to strengthen the existing group of Portuguese-speaking and Brazilian players within the squad.
Priority positions
Wolves are coming to terms with the need to make key signings in four key positions: both wing-back spots, at least one attacking midfielder (number 10), and a central striker.
Nelson Semedo’s experience and quality will need to be replaced at right-back, while Ait-Nouri’s contributions in goals and assists must also be addressed on the left.
These positions are arguably just as critical to fill as Cunha’s, which may lead to areas like central midfield being temporarily deprioritized.
On the other hand, Pereira has previously urged the club to be assertive in improving the squad, and the swift departures of Semedo, Ait-Nouri, and Cunha will likely reinforce his call for action.
