00:00Wolves are entering a pivotal season under Vitor Pereira, with the Portuguese head coach
00:06overseeing a summer of significant transition. After seeing several key players depart, the
00:13focus at Molineux is on smart recruitment, tactical refinement and laying the groundwork
00:18for a more consistent Premier League campaign. Pereira, who took charge towards the end of
00:24last season, is already reshaping the squad in his image, bringing in technical players
00:30suited to a more proactive, high-tempo style. With attacking creativity and offensive resilience
00:36both on the agenda, the transfer window represents a vital period. Wolves must get their recruitment
00:42right not just to stay clear of trouble, but to re-establish a long-term identity and vision
00:48under their new manager. We caught up with Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World, who
00:53provided insights into how Wolves are handling the rebuild, where the biggest gaps lie and
00:59how the club is approaching a defining period in its modern era.
01:05Yeah, and obviously those two players going out the door. Who do you feel is now the most
01:10important player at Wolves? Because, you know, we saw the welcome of Emmanuel Agbedou. He made
01:16a massive difference when he came through the door in January. And then Andre and Jao Gomez,
01:22the two Brazilians in the midfield, you know, one of the best partnerships in the league has to be
01:26said on their day. Those that sort of standouts now, they've obviously got a few young players
01:31as well. Pedro Lima, are we going to see him get his chance early 18 at right back? Who sort of
01:37stands out? You look at Jorwin Sean Larson as well, 14 Premier League goals. That certainly
01:42can't be ignored by other fans across the Premier League.
01:46I'd have to agree with the names that you've mentioned. Agbedou, starting in the winter,
01:51just saw how much of an impact he had and how much Wolves defence, how much more solid it became
01:57as soon as he joined the club. They were lacking that kind of fairly quick, but strong and dominant
02:02player in the air. Agbedou, all of those things in abundance. I think him, alongside Yeozen Mosquera,
02:07once he's back from injury, could be a decent partnership. And of course, Toti Gomez on the left of
02:12that three as well. Thiago Gomez and Andres, a midfield partnership, can be fantastic. I think
02:18they're a bit inconsistent, maybe a little bit hot-headed at times or a little bit rash of their
02:21decision-making, but that will come with time. They're both still very young players and of
02:26course, both being Brazilian in that international set-up together, they have more time, even during
02:30international breaks, to build on that partnership. Jorgen Stran Larsson, I was worried you weren't going
02:34to mention him, scoring quite a few goals. I think he surpassed what Raul Jimenez managed in his
02:39first season at Wolves, so that's really promising indeed. Of course, coming in permanently from
02:44Seltzer. I think one player that you haven't mentioned, who might not be a Wolves player
02:49come the end of June, is Nelson Samedo. It's just so important, I think, that Wolves convince him to
02:55stay. It's just difficult because he hasn't accepted that contract since it's going on and on.
03:00It feels inevitable now that he's going to leave the club and being the captain, being one of the
03:03very few proper leaders in that dressing room, I think he'll be a big miss. But if Wolves can keep
03:08hold of him, I think he'll be one of the most important players in that squad for many years
03:11to come.
03:13Yeah, obviously, since we last caught up, the season ended. Jorgen Stran Larsson's figures,
03:1814 Premier League goals. I think it's important we actually touch on that. Four Premier League
03:21assists as well. At times, it looked like he struggled throughout the season. He went through
03:26some bad patches, but the way he ended the season under Vitor Pereira's leadership, especially the last
03:31two, three months, he was untouchable. One of the best players in the Premier League,
03:36really, on his day. He got some massively important goals, the likes of Ipswich away as
03:41well. What's your thoughts on him and how important he's going to be for Wolves going
03:47forward? Because scoring goals had been a bit of an issue getting that Raul Jimenez replacement
03:51before his head injury. That was a bit of an issue that was overhanging Wolves' dugout.
03:56And now it seems like they've maybe found a solution.
04:00Yeah, they were crying out, weren't they, for that proper centre-forward after Raul Jimenez.
04:03And Strand Larsson pretty much hit the ground running straight away. As you mentioned, he was
04:07patchy at times, but I think that's probably a fitness thing. Of course, a great finisher,
04:12pretty tall as well, so he can be a bit of a target man figure. I think he's so important to have that
04:16proper number nine leading the line, and he can be that. But I think Wolves, they need to sign
04:21another striker who can compete with Strand Larsson, push into the next level, of course, rotate in for
04:28him as well when Strand Larsson gets tired. But a great signing so far, and hopefully it's not that
04:33curse of when he joins permanently that his form falls away. If he can continue on the rate he is
04:37and potentially improve further, he could have a 20-goal striker in Strand Larsson. He really is
04:42fantastic.
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