Wolves’ squad is going to make for fascinating viewing by the time the 2024/25 season rolls around.
There have already been big changes. Three new faces have come in in the form of Rodrigo Gomes, Pedro Lima and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Fans are hoping these three players will be able to make big impacts on the first-team, especially striker Strand Larsen, who is the most experienced.
Wolves also sold Max Kilman recently, with West Ham United paying the club £40 million for his services.
Kilman’s exit is really interesting, because he was such a dependable player for Gary O’Neil, who played him in all but one game across all competitions last season.
It’s going to be really intriguing to see who partners Craig Dawson and seemingly, there could be some warning signs for Santiago Bueno.
Yerson Mosquera emergence could stop Santiago Bueno getting regular minutes
It is likely that Dawson will be one of the starting centre-backs this coming season.
He has been a really reliable performer since he arrived in January 2023, and O’Neil obviously really appreciates what he brings to the backline.
He did finish last season injured, but the 34-year-old will surely begin the season in the starting XI at least.
If we are to believe that O’Neil will be switching to a back four, then that leaves just one space for another centre-back.
Bueno was the player who deputised for the injured Dawson last season, playing in nine of the last 11 Premier League games, seven of which were starts.
Bueno gave a decent account of himself in this period. But it is fair to say he didn’t really blow people away.
He would probably like to think he’d be the man to start alongside Dawson.
But there have been some exciting early suggestions about Yerson Mosquera in pre-season which could make things a bit tricky.
Journalist Nathan Judah said last week that Mosquera had looked ‘absolute class’ on the first day of pre-season training, along with winger Chiquinho. Then, a few days later, Judah reported that Mosquera was set to stay with Wolves, saying he ‘has looked happy, strong & impressive during training camp’.
Mosquera has been a player O’Neil has been waiting to take a look at, and the manager seemingly feels he could really be a starting option in 2024/25.
Wolves looking at new centre-backs is further concerning news for Bueno
So Bueno has a teammate who is emerging for Wolves who could potentially be a barrier to regular minutes.
And of course, it is also worth pointing out that Toti Gomes is an option for O’Neil, although he doesn’t have huge experience of playing in a flat back four.
But what is also concerning for £8.5 million signing Bueno is that Wolves appear to be in the market for a new centre-back after selling Kilman.
In recent weeks there have been links to the links of David Carmo of FC Porto and Borussia Monchengladbach star Nico Elvedi. Croatia centre-back Josip Sutalo has also been mentioned.
So it is a very important time for Bueno now. The jury is still out on him a little bit, so he needs to seriously impress out in Marbella and the US if he is to start that first game against Arsenal and then keep his place.