Wolves intend to give Gary O’Neil a new deal, but they will delay discussions until the summer as they focus on securing a top-eight spot in the Premier League. O’Neil has revitalized the team since taking over from Julen Lopetegui just 48 hours before the start of the season.
Despite facing an initial setback of an exodus of players, Wolves are currently ranked 10th with a six-point gap from sixth place. This is a surprising feat, especially since many expected them to struggle. Additionally, they have also made it to the FA Cup quarter-finals. However, their previous manager Lopetegui made a decision to leave due to his belief that the team’s squad was not strong enough to avoid a potential relegation battle. In order to comply with profit and sustainability regulations, Wolves had to let go of several key players, including former captain Rúben Neves.
O’Neil, one of the four English managers in the highest level of football league, agreed to a contract lasting three years but is likely to receive a new contract. “It’s expected that things will progress in that direction – he has performed sufficiently to warrant that discussion,” stated Matt Hobbs, the sporting director for Wolves. “As part of the discussion, we will also address the club’s plan and have open discussions about its future. This is an unavoidable situation for us this summer.”
“Our goal is to end the season strong and have the exciting opportunity of competing in the FA Cup ahead of us. Our team is highly motivated by both the league and the determination of our squad. I recently spoke with Mario Lemina after Christmas and he believes we have a good chance of qualifying for Europe.”
The players have high expectations for themselves and believe that if they play at their best, they can make it into the top eight. This is the same ambition that our coach Gary shares. At this point, no players have approached me about signing new contracts. Our focus is on the task at hand and we will handle all other matters in the summer.
It is expected that Wolves will have to let go of one valuable player this summer in order to comply with the financial requirements of the league. Some of their top players, such as Portugal forward Pedro Neto and midfielder João Gomes – who was recently called up to the Brazilian national team – are being closely watched by top-tier teams.
Hobbs stated that their team’s goal is to not sell more than two starting players. However, if larger clubs express interest, he has always allowed players to move on if their sale can be used to benefit the team’s progress. He mentioned that in the past, they have successfully moved forward despite losing three or four starters. The team is constantly seeking improvement and has the capability to reject significant offers, but each player has their own monetary value.
Hobbs stated that Wolves aims to keep seeking out affordable players for recruitment, as their previous investments in Fábio Silva and Gonçalo Guedes, worth £35m and £28m respectively, did not produce successful results. Both players are currently on loan at Rangers and Villarreal. Neto and Gomes were acquired for £12m each, while Portuguese defender Toti Gomes, who recently extended his contract, was a bargain at £1m. Additionally, Wolves’ captain, Max Kilman, was purchased for only £40,000 from Maidenhead.
“Proceed to newsletter without promo”
after newsletter promotion
On Saturday, Wolves will be hosting Fulham, followed by a match against Coventry the following week. Their goal is to advance to the Cup semi-finals, which they have not done since 2019.
Source: theguardian.com
