Wolves have full focus on their Premier League opener against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon as the 2024/25 campaign commences.
After battling a trip to Old Trafford on the opening day last season, Gary O’Neil has another great task to overcome to open the 2024/25 calendar.
Wolves face a visit to the capital to duel Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday, giving the manager several decisions to make over squad selection.
While the Old Gold have only welcomed three new faces so far, the squad could look rather different to last term’s, with several returning loan players looking to make an impact.
- READ MORE: Keep, Sell, Loan – What Wolves need to do with last season’s outcasts for the 2024/25 campaign
Yerson Mosquera opens up about Villarreal transfer rumours and looks to 2024/25 season at Wolves
One player who will be eyeing a strong season is Yerson Mosquera, who spent the 2023/24 season on loans at Cincinnati and in LaLiga with Villarreal.
The second half of the campaign was decisive to where the Colombian currently stands in O’Neil’s squad, having featured heavily in pre-season to hint at his role next term.
Speaking to Express and Star, the 23-year-old admitted that earlier in the summer, he was unsure of where his future would lie.
“It’s a really hard decision because I have a contract here and I didn’t know what would happen with my future.
“They [Villarreal] liked me and wanted to buy me, but I didn’t have the decision. I have a contract here, I want to focus on being here.”
Villarreal were desperate to sign Mosquera’s signature this summer after he impressed on loan however, his future looks to be firmly at Molineux.
“They spoke with the club but I don’t know anything. My focus is on staying here,” Mosquera explained.
“They [Wolves] always said to me ‘Yerson, we want to see you here’, when I was at Villarreal. They called me and told me they need me at Wolves and if I had the chance to play I wanted to stay at Wolves.”
Mosquera has Villarreal experience to thank ahead of possible Premier League breakthrough
Had Mosquera not excelled on loan at Villarreal, there could be a debate over his future following an opposing narrative to O’Neil’s desperation to keep him at Wolves.
The Colombia international has become a recognised defensive talent in one of Europe’s top leagues, but this wasn’t always the case for the 23-year-old.
- READ MORE: What Wolves fans can expect from Yerson Mosquera this season as ‘excellent’ expert verdict given
During his in-depth interview with E&S, Mosquera outlined one factor of his time in Spain that has put him in good stead to become a Premier League regular.
“It was a good experience, I didn’t have the confidence and at Cincinnati and Villarreal I had a lot of chances to play and my confidence is higher now.
“I need to be ready for the Premier League, that’s football, you don’t know what happens next.”
Having consistent game time to expand his confidence on the pitch at senior level was critical to Mosquera’s journey ahead of the 2024/25 season, where things seem to be pointing in the right direction for the Colombian.