“It’s a big transfer window for Wolves” – a statement that has been recycled multiple times over the last few years and one that suggests that Wolves have been a club treading water rather than making progress.
Gary O’Neil’s team has gone from one that was flirting with European football and a potential place in an FA Cup semi-final to a side with just one win in eight, scoring nine goals in the last 10 Premier League games in the process.
Wolves were having a great season but a cluster of injuries in one area effectively ended it early, while also highlighting and exposing the woeful lack of depth across the first-team squad.
Every team has injuries, but how many established Premier League teams’ seasons collapse after a few injuries?
Modern football is very much a squad game, but it’s an area that in comparison to their rivals, Wolves fall woefully short and in recent times they really haven’t helped themselves.
Wolves were thin on the ground anyway and although out of favour and looking for regular minutes, loaning out both Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva in January without bringing anyone was a huge gamble that has already come back to bite the club in spectacular fashion.
Those given the responsibility with the recruitment this summer have a huge task ahead of them and it won’t be made any easier knowing that an already desperately thin squad will likely be further depleted.
Pedro Neto appears certain to depart, plus one or more of Max Kilman, Joao Gomes or Rayan Ait-Nouri could be on the way if offers come in that the club can’t refuse.
No club wants to lose any star assets. But when powerhouses come knocking it means the model is working, but it’s not selling them for a profit that concerns me…it’s how the money is reinvested and how those who are departing are replaced that’s the biggest issue.
At clubs like Brighton and Brentford, contingency plans are constantly being drawn up, with ready-made replacements ready to roll.
But at Wolves that appears far from the case, evidenced by players recently called up being nowhere near ready for regular Premier League football or simply being utilised out of position.
Gary O’Neil and his staff have exceeded expectations at Molineux this season, but in doing so it’s probably papered over the cracks of a squad that is in desperate need of additional quality support.
Since the visit of Fulham early in March where Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Pedro Neto were added to the injury list, the Head Coach has faced an almost impossible task that should act as a huge wake up call for the club.
You can only cut corners for so long, so if the custodians wish to retain the clubs top flight status in the long term, as well as retain the services of an ambitious young coach, Wolves will need to do considerably better in the summer.