Wolves will need to have a strong January transfer window to survive in the Premier League.
It’s been a disastrous campaign for the Old Gold so far, who have spent most of it inside the division’s bottom three.
Wolves will hope that sacking Gary O’Neil and hiring Portuguese boss Vitor Pereira as his replacement can ignite their survival challenge.
Pereira inherits a Wolves squad with quality, according to pundit Chris Sutton, but their position in the table suggests otherwise and several positions need reinforcements.
The 56-year-old also needs to keep hold of his best players next month, as further asset stripping from Fosun would only put a dent in their chances of finishing outside the bottom three.
So, with that said, here’s how a dream January transfer window could look at Wolves.
Wolves sign a quality centre-back
Wolves have placed signing a centre-back at the top of their transfer wishlist, and that is hardly surprising.
Pereira inherits a squad with the worst record at defending set-pieces in the league as well as the most goals conceded this term.
The Portuguese has a huge challenge on his hands to transform them into a solid unit, although acquiring a quality centre-back would help their cause.
Wolves have been linked with Ben Godfrey, the former Everton defender who is now playing for Atalanta, and he possesses the pace, mobility and Premier League experience to make a difference.
Godfrey has been labelled as ‘outstanding’ by Rio Ferdinand, and signing the Englishman – or someone of a similar level – can help improve their fortunes with Wolves looking to sign two defenders.
Pereira must keep Matheus Cunha at Molineux
Speculation is heating up regarding the future of Matheus Cunha, the Wolves talisman who is now attracting some of the division’s biggest clubs.
Manchester United have shown an interest in Cunha after watching the Brazilian score eight goals and provide three assists this term.
The 25-year-old is crucial to Wolves and waving goodbye to him in January would be the Wanderers kissing their survival hopes goodnight.
Luckily, Cunha is likely to stay at Wolves in January while the club are also looking to offer him a new lucrative contract.
Pereira adds a new left-back in his squad
Pereira deploys a three-at-the-back system with wing-backs, a formation supporters have become familiar with over the years.
On the right side, the new manager is spoilt for choice, with Nelson Semedo, Matt Doherty and even Pedro Lima as options.
Whereas on the left, only Rayan Ait-Nouri is the most natural wing-back. Although Doherty can play there, the Republic of Ireland star arguably makes them weaker.
The first choice in that position, Ait-Nouri has struggled at times for various reasons; defending isn’t his strong suit and the Algerian is better deployed further forward.
| Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 2024/25 Premier League stats | Figure |
| Games | 16 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 3 |
Ait-Nouri, who recently served a one-match ban after his scuffle against Ipswich, would be able to play as an attacking outlet if Pereira signed a new wing-back.
Wolves wishing for the above is perhaps a pipe dream as Fosun is only willing to invest in a centre-back however, signing a defensively solid player on the left side could instantly change their fortunes.