It’s been all change at Wolves since the summer transfer window opened temporarily on June 1st.
There is a nine-day window for clubs to register new signings before the market closes once again to accommodate the Club World Cup.
Wolves have already been impacted by such, as Manchester City hope to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri before the tournament kicks off.
As well as the likelihood of losing Ait-Nouri, Wolves have bid farewell to Matheus Cunha, who has signed for Manchester United after his release clause was triggered.
It’s not only within Vitor Pereira’s squad that change is happening, as above the Wolves manager, movement is unfolding, as sporting director Matt Hobbs is on the way out.
The Old Gold are only expected to brace themselves for additional change as the summer goes on, particularly as Pereira desperately needs reinforcements to cover the early departures.
Dave Edwards identifies what Wolves need to replace Matheus Cunha
Sufficiently replacing Cunha is paramount, but it won’t be easy by any means.
A player of the Brazilian’s calibre rarely comes around, which is why club icon Dave Edwards has already sent an ominous warning to Fosun to recruit smartly.
Writing in his column for Express and Star, Edwards admitted that there’s ‘no one’ that can replace Cunha entirely, but there are profiles that can fill the void left by the playmaker.
“There is no one out there that we can buy that will replace him like for like. They want number 10s, and I do think they need to invest money in that area,” Edwards said.
“I don’t think it is an area they can just go and sign young. They have to be ready to play in the Premier League straight away. So they will be looking for a very gifted technical player.”
Wolves have been linked to Premier League talents, as Harvey Elliott was on Hobbs’ radar, but now that the sporting director is heading to the exit, it’s unclear whether such interest will be retained.
Elliott doesn’t fit the bill of what Wolves require to replace Cunha, as Edwards made clear, but all hope is not lost.
Jorge Mendes could help with replacing Cunha
As well as Hobbs leaving, it was revealed that Wolves are making significant changes behind the scenes, which includes the reintroduction of Jorge Mendes.
The super agent has worked closely with those at Molineux over the years and has delivered some remarkable talent to the West Midlands.
Mendes will return to his influential post at Wolves with a few tricks up his sleeve, which could deliver the answer to Wolves replacing Cunha.
Gestifute client Mateus Fernandes could be an option for Wolves, as could some higher-profile players associated with Mendes, including Joao Felix, who has an uncertain future.
Neither player has been directly linked to Wolves, but as we’re only four days into the window, anything can happen.
Edwards doesn’t want to see his former club repeat history and hope to fill the void left by key players with emerging talent, understanding that Cunha’s departure is too costly not to address in the market.