Wolves closed the curtain on their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 defeat against Rayo Vallecano as Gary O’Neil now shifts his focus to next weekend’s big kick-off.
It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for Wolves, who accepted a £54 million bid from Chelsea for star winger Pedro Neto and awarded Gary O’Neil a new four-year contract at Molineux.
Handing O’Neil a long-term deal was a no-brainer, as the former Bournemouth manager has been a revelation since arriving and keeping him at the club could be essential for a positive future.
A 14th-place finish in his first season was regarded as a success but following a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, it’s become clear that multiple issues need resolving ahead of their trip to Arsenal.
Here are the three most pressing concerns O’Neil will have heading into 2024/25…
Wolves need to sign a new centre-back
Wolves entered this summer needing to sign a new centre-back and that need was heightened when Max Kilman was sold to West Ham.
Although Yerson Mosquera and Toti Gomes have impressed as a duo, they have been described by Liam Keen as ‘chaotic’ at times and they aren’t a duo the Wanderers should have to rely on.
Toti was quality on the left of a back three last term alongside Craig Dawson and Kilman, whereas Mosquera has never played a minute of Premier League football, so he needs to be managed correctly.
Signing a new centre-back is arguably their most pressing concern and hopefully, one can be captured ahead of their clash against Arsenal, or at least looked at.
- READ MORE: The ‘bizarre’ offer Wolves rejected from Premier League side before agreeing Pedro Neto deal
Who starts if Matheus Cunha isn’t fit
Cunha was sorely missed in the 1-0 defeat to Vallecano. The Brazilian has slotted into his new role like a glove, deployed just in behind Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Sadly, it was confirmed by Liam Keen on Thursday that the 25-year-old won’t be available for the trip to Arsenal and that is a big blow to O’Neil.
It’s underestimated how much Cunha brings to the starting XI when he’s on the pitch, as he links up play superbly and uses his searing pace and deadly finishing to hurt opponents.
O’Neil now has to decide who starts in the number 10 role against Arsenal in his absence. Hwang Hee-chan is a huge contender having played there against RB Leipzig while Pablo Sarabia and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde can also play there.
Indeed, Cunha being out has given the Wolves boss some food for thought ahead of next week.
Pedro Neto replacement needed, and fast
Although he suffered long spells out with injury, playing just 51 of Wolves’ last 121 games in the Premier League, Wolves still need to nail a replacement for Neto.
In most matches he played, particularly last season, he was a difference-maker for the Wanderers with his pace, fleet-footed dribbling and directness.
Completely replacing him will be a difficult task, especially if they only plan to use a fraction of the transfer fee, but their loss against the Spanish side shows how much it is needed.
Wolves have several unproven players in their squad at Premier League level, including Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes, so they need to supply that duo with some added quality, preferably ahead of Arsenal.