With the new Premier League campaign now upon us, predicting how Wolves will perform has always been a tricky task.
Traditionally, the Old Gold side has always performed heavily above or below the expectations the Molineux faithful have installed upon them, and this has continued into the Premier League.
Whether it be the back-to-back seventh-place finishes under Nuno Espirito Santo or their flirt with relegation in the 2022/23 campaign, there is never a dull moment as a Wolves supporter.
Gary O’Neil is now set to lead the Wanderers into their seventh successive season in the top flight, aiming to improve upon their 14-place finish in the last campaign.
Ahead of the opening game against Arsenal on Saturday, Molineux News’ team of expert writers has attempted to predict where Wolves finish this season.
Tom Proctor
Fresh from signing a new contract at Molineux, Gary O’Neil is embarking on his second season in charge at Wolves and I am feeling optimistic he can build on the club’s 14th-place finish in the Premier League in 2023/24.
Wolves have made three positive new additions so far this summer and also signed Tommy Doyle up permanently – and they all looked good in pre-season.
The sale of Pedro Neto to Chelsea could sting though, and Max Kilman was also an important player for O’Neil. His potential replacement Yerson Mosquera, while very promising, is unproven at Premier League level and the jury is still out for many on Santi Bueno.
If Wolves can land a top, experienced centre-back before the transfer window closes, then a top-half finish should be very achievable.
Wolves have a very tough start in terms of the fixtures and there could well be some early pressure. But there have been so many positives about Wolves under O’Neil since he came in last year, he has built a very solid culture at the club, you can see all the players love and respect him, and many of them have improved considerably under his management. The waters could be choppy initially, but I’m expecting Wolves to weather the storm and finish strongly.
Predicted finish: 9th
Rosie Tudball
Wolves showed glimpses of the quality they can produce under Gary O’Neil last season, I think with better depth a European finish last term could have been on the cards.
The summer arrival of Rodrigo Gomes will be huge for the Old Gold, I believe he’s hinted at what he can offer to Wolves during pre-season although, losing Pedro Neto is something O’Neil must address.
If the quality seen in pre-season can be produced consistently in the 2024/25 Premier League, I can genuinely see Wolves pushing for a top-10 finish.
They’ve got the talent, and they’ve got the manager, they just need to add further depth and hope that the squad can remain fit.
Predicted finish: 10th
Read more: Wolves’ best Premier League goals of all-time.
Tom Griffin
Last season, Wolves were regarded as potential relegation candidates but the arrival of Gary O’Neil changed the narrative completely.
With a thin squad to choose from and a whole host of injuries, O’Neil did fantastically well to have Wolves challenging for Europe at one point. However, injuries eventually took their toll and a 14th-place finish was regarded as a solid campaign in the end.
Wolves have since made some smart additions in the window, including the arrivals of Jorgen Strand Larsen, Pedro Lima and Rodrigo Gomes. But they’ve also lost their captain Max Kilman and star winger Pedro Neto; two players they must replace in the closing weeks of the window.
The Wanderers 2024/25 campaign could depend on how effectively they replace Neto, who on his day, was a game-changer for Wolves.
If they can find a quality replacement and plug other areas of their squad with the money, there’s no reason why they can’t finish in the top half. However, I think squad depth will take its toll once more.
Predicted finish: 12th
Jack Dawson
The quality of Wolves’ season feels like it depends on their start to the upcoming campaign. Despite numerous quality performances last season, its terrible end eerily matched that of the 2021/22 campaign.
Bruno Lage was unable to recover Wolves’ form going into the next season and O’Neil must ensure that his squad doesn’t repeat this fate.
Pedro Neto and Max Kilman will also be a big miss, with Wolves yet to delve into the transfer market to find a replacement for either former star.
However, if O’Neil can bring in some quality additions before the end of the window, there are signs that the club could improve on last season’s 14th-place finish.
In the USA, Wolves dismantled both West Ham and Red Bull Leipzig with ease and if these performances can transition into the league, the club will survive comfortably.
It will no doubt be another rocky campaign at the club with many ups and downs, but as it stands, all signs point towards another mid-table finish.
Predicted finish: 14th