This season poses a unique challenge for Vitor Pereira, with the African Cup of Nations taking place midway through the campaign.
Pereira has highlighted the need for depth during this window, not only for the challenges of a Premier League season, but also to cover the inevitable absences that will hit Wolves in December.
New signing Jackson Tchatchoua and incoming Tolu Arokodare join the list of Wolves players who will be going to AFCON.
Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi will also represent their countries, so Pereira knows a plan needs to be in place.
Vitor Pereira wants more depth before deadline day to cover AFCON absences
Pereira sat down for an interview for Wolves’ official website ahead of the Everton game, where he discussed the Wolves squad and his thoughts approaching the end of the window.
He says: “Since the beginning, the club knows very well what we need to balance the squad, to anticipate the time of AFCON, because during AFCON we will lose players, and this is a moment we need to prevent and we need to anticipate this scenario.”
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The Portuguese boss thinks depth is key to competing at the top level, and he aspires to set high standards of competition within the squad, explaining: “I need players who can make up the competition inside the team. For that reason, I want to have two players fighting for every position.”
Wolves aren’t at that point yet, but there is good depth in defence already. Now it’s just getting that other midfielder he needs and holding what he has in attack.
Vitor Pereira cannot wait for the window to close
Pereira clearly thinks there is still work to do in the final days of the window, but at the same time, he wants that deadline to pass.
He says: “My experience in football, I have some funny stories where in the last minute we lost the best player and in the last minute we kept the best player – but this is football.
“It’s not only about me, but about all of the managers, and I cannot wait for the window to close so I can say, ‘This is my squad. This is my team. We are here to fight and to be focused.'”
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With Jorgen Strand Larsen’s future uncertain, most Wolves fans will be anxiously counting down to 7 pm on Monday.
But there is still business to be done. A midfield target has to be brought in, and to really address the AFCON concerns, one more attacker as well.