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.
Comments