Wolves had a lot of work to combat in the January transfer window amid a relegation battle with a double deadline day swoop certainly helping the cause.
After Fosun failed to back Gary O’Neil in January 2024, great change was seen this year as Vitor Pereira had his transfer demands answered.
Wolves welcomed Emmanuel Agbadou, Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga to the squad, as well as agreeing a new contract with Matheus Cunha.
While the triple arrival was much-needed, the Old Gold did miss out on several targets, seeing Kevin Danso join Tottenham and midfielder Manu Silva choose Benfica.
Leaving the January transfer window with three additional players and sitting just outside of the relegation zone, there is some marginal breathing space for Wolves.
Following the drama of deadline day, Molineux News spoke to transfer expert Graeme Bailey about the work Matt Hobbs and Wolves’ hierarchy pulled off.
Below is a roundup of the Q&A held with Bailey, who commented on the new signings, Cunha’s contract and the chances of Premier League survival.
On deadline day at Wolves
- Wolves welcomed two players on deadline day
They did what was needed and not many teams can say that with another CDM in Munetsi and a second centre-half in Djiga – they certainly did not overspend. I liked it.
On Wolves not signing an attacking player
- Wolves aimed to get a forward in before the deadline
I don’t think Wolves, even with Jorgen Strand Larsen sidelined for a while, are going to have major issues scoring – clearly they would have liked a bit of extra help but they kept Cunha.
How Vitor Pereira is feeling about the transfer window
- Vitor Pereira wanted several players in his first window at Wolves
Wolves’ main issue was conceding and he got the two CBs which was the biggest need, arguably the biggest need of any club in the Premier League. They kept Cunha, they kept Ait-Nouri…it was not perfect but I firmly believe he is satisfied with how it played out.
On the targets Wolves missed out on
- Wolves were linked to Conor Coady and missed out on Kevin Danso and Manu Silva
To be honest, I am not sure any of them were [big misses] – but if I had to pick maybe Manu Silva, as I think he could be very good – Danso and Coady, they are what they are.
On Matheus Cunha’s contract
- Matheus Cunha extended his contract to 2029
Cunha was hugely important for two reasons for me – yes it cemented the fact he was not going to be sold, but Wolves insisted that was the case throughout January.
But for me the fact you are keeping Cunha is such a huge boost for the club, the rest of the squad and the fans. Look at the likes of Leicester and Ipswich – do they have anyone like Cunha? Nowhere near.
On whether Fosun have redeemed themselves
- Fosun failed to sufficiently back Gary O’Neil
Well, they have done something – which is better than nothing. Enough to win over the fans? I’m not so sure.
On pressure on Vitor Pereira
- Vitor Pereira received more support than Gary O’Neil did
Well, the pressure is on him to stay up that is for sure – I don’t think it is more pressure as that was the case when he arrived.
On relegation clauses
All Wolves players to some extent will.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 34 | 52 | -18 | 19 |
On Premier League survival chances after deadline day
They most certainly do now, they had probably had enough before January in truth.
How Wolves’ squad compares to relegation rivals
- Wolves, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton have struggled
For me, it is three clubs battling for one survival spot now. Southampton are down.
Ipswich have tried, whilst Leicester have not. Ipswich are still some way off Wolves in terms of squad. Leicester I don’t think would have been too far away if Ruud van Nistelrooy had been backed, but that has not been the case.
I think Leicester’s decision not to spend could almost be as important to Wolves’ survival chances as their own spending.