It’s been a transformative summer for Wolves, marked by the early exit of several key players, leaving the club at a crucial crossroads. As the team looks ahead to the new season, the focus now shifts to those core individuals still at Molineux—players expected to carry the club through what promises to be a challenging campaign. We spoke to Charlie Haffenden of BirminghamWorld to get his take on Wolves’ summer outlook, which players are likely to take on bigger roles, and how the club plans to rebuild while keeping an eye on long-term sustainability.
00:00It's been a transformative summer already for Wolves, marked by the early exits of several
00:08key players, leaving the club at a crucial crossroads.
00:12As the team look ahead to the new season, the focus now shifts to those core individuals
00:17still at Molyneux, players expected to carry the club through what promises to be a challenging
00:23campaign.
00:25With the reshaped squad taking shape, Wolves must find the right mix of leadership, quality
00:29and resilience to compete effectively.
00:32The departures have opened up opportunities for established figures and emerging talents
00:37alike to step up and lead the charge.
00:40Despite the upheaval, Wolves retain a strong nucleus of talent.
00:45These players not only offer continuity but also embody the club's fighting spirit and
00:49ambitions.
00:51The summer priorities now include reinforcing the squad wisely, while fostering cohesion
00:56among the remaining group.
00:58We caught up with Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World to get his take on Wolves' summer outlook.
01:04Which players are likely to take on bigger roles and how the club plans to rebuild while keeping
01:09an eye on long-term sustainability.
01:12Obviously, those two players going out the door, who do you feel is now the most important
01:18player at Wolves, because we saw the welcome of Emmanuel Agbadoo.
01:24He made a massive difference when he came through the door in January.
01:28And then Andre and Jao Gomez, the two Brazilians in the midfield.
01:31One of the best partnerships in the league, it has to be said, on their day.
01:35And those that sort of standouts now, they've obviously got a few young players as well.
01:39Pedro Lima, I'm going to see him get his chance at the 18 at right back.
01:44Who sort of stands out?
01:46You look at Jorwin Sean Larson as well.
01:4814 Premier League goals.
01:50That certainly can't be ignored by other fans across the Premier League.
01:54Well, I'd have to agree with the names that you've mentioned.
01:56Agbadoo, signing in the winter, just saw how much of an impact he had and how much Wolves' defence,
02:03how much more solid it became as soon as he joined the club.
02:05They were lacking that kind of fairly quick, but strong and dominant player in the air.
02:10Agbadoo, all of those things in abundance.
02:13I think him, alongside Yeozen Mosquera, once he's back from injury, could be a decent partnership.
02:18And, of course, Toti Gomez on the left of that three as well.
02:21Jao Gomez and Andre is a midfield partnership.
02:24It can be fantastic.
02:25I think they're a bit inconsistent, maybe a little bit hot-headed at times,
02:28or a little bit rash of their decision-making, but that will come with time.
02:31They're both still very young players and, of course, both being Brazilian in that international set-up together,
02:36they have more time, even during international breaks, to build on that partnership.
02:40Jorgen Strand-Larsen, I was worried you weren't going to mention him, scoring quite a few goals.
02:44I think he surpassed what Raul Jimenez managed in his first season at Wolves.
02:49So that's really promising indeed.
02:50Of course, coming in permanently from Celta.
02:53I think one player that you haven't mentioned who might not be a Wolves player come the end of June is Nelson Samedo.
03:00It's just so important, I think, that Wolves convince him to stay.
03:03It's just difficult because he hasn't accepted that contract since going on and on.
03:07It feels inevitable now that he's going to leave the club, and being the captain, being one of the very few proper leaders in that dressing room, I think he'll be a big miss.
03:15But if Wolves can keep hold of him, I think he'll be one of the most important players in that squad for many years to come.
03:20Obviously, since we last caught up, the season ended, Jorgen Strand-Larsen's figures, 14 Premier League goals.
03:27I think it's important we actually touch on that, four Premier League assists as well.
03:30At times, it looked like he struggled throughout the season.
03:34He went through some bad patches, but the way he ended the season under Vitor Pereira's leadership, especially the last two, three months, he was untouchable.
03:41One of the best players in the Premier League, really, on his day.
03:45He got some massively important goals, the likes of Ipswich away as well.
03:50What's your thoughts on him and how important he's going to be for Wolves going forward?
03:55Because scoring goals had been a bit of an issue, getting that Raul Jimenez replacement before his head injury.
04:00That was a bit of an issue that was overhanging Wolves' dugout.
04:04And now it seems like they've maybe found a solution.
04:07Yeah, they were crying out, weren't they, for that proper centre-forward after Raul Jimenez.
04:11And Strand-Larsen pretty much hit the ground running straight away.
04:14As you mentioned, he was patchy at times.
04:16But I think that's probably a fitness thing, that the Wolves were relying on him so much.
04:21Quite regular fixtures as well, of course.
04:23Not in Europe.
04:24I think that really would have been a problem if Wolves were.
04:26But still playing pretty regularly, not quite used to the intensity of the Premier League.
04:30But great signing so far.
04:31And hopefully it's not that curse of when he joins permanently that his form falls away.
04:36If he can continue on the rate he is and potentially improve further,
04:38you could have a 20-goal striker in Strand-Larsen.
