Gary O’Neil received his flowers for leading Wolves away from trouble last season. With big name exits at Molineux once again this summer, can he keep the club consolidated in the Premier League?
Wolves – Premier League Season Preview 2024/25
Last season: 14th
Title odds: 500/1
TFF prediction: 14th
Wolves Transfers 2024/25
In: Rodrigo Gomes, Tommy Doyle, Pedro Lima, Arthur Nasta, Jorgen Strand Larsen (loan).
Out: Max Kilman, Oliver Tipton, Pedro Neto, Hugo Bueno (loan), Marvin Kaleta (loan).
An underrated first season at the helm for Gary O’Neil saw him lead Wolves comfortably clear of trouble, when most had anticipated a season of struggle following the sales of Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes. O’Neil organised his troops and brought the best from underperforming assets in Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha, who each improved modest goal records to end the campaign with 11 league goals apiece.
🇧🇷😁 pic.twitter.com/y7y6Js8OP4
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 15, 2024
Wolves will need to cope with more big name exits this season after Pedro Neto’s €63m sale to Chelsea. The winger was electric as part of O’Neil’s counter-attacking plan but has been hampered by injury problems throughout his time at Molineux. Max Kilman has also reunited with ex-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui at West Ham, with a replacement required for the departed club captain.
How Wolves reinvest those feee remains to be seen, though Jorgen Strand Larsen is an intriguing addition. The Norwegian forward scored 13 goals for Celta Vigo in La Liga last season and at 22 could be the long-term solution to Wolves’ woes at centre-forward. A physical handful, he could be the ideal foil for Cunha and Hwang to operate off in the final third.
Key player: Matheus Cunha
A match-winner at his best, a lack of goals was the big question mark around Cunha whose quality is clear. After scoring 11 in the Premier League last season, including a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, he went a long way to answering those critics. Wolves are a better side when the big Brazilian is playing, with his dynamism and ball-carrying crucial to O’Neil’s game plan. Wolves need the South American to have another big season.
One to watch: Rodrigo Gomes
Wolves have returned to Portuguese football for yet another signing this summer, landing 21-year-old Rodrigo Gomes from Braga. The versatile wide player might not be quite ready to replace the end product of Pedro Neto but he has certainly made an impression during the pre-season campaign. Bright, pacey and confident, he looks a smart pick-up.
Rodrigo gets his first in old gold 🫶 pic.twitter.com/DQHvJlVcGF
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 28, 2024
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