'Secure Lopetegui' and 'sign a striker' - Wolves' summer prioritiespublished at 12:01
12:01
We asked for your thoughts on where Wolves need to prioritise their efforts this summer.
Here's a flavour of what you said:
Jeremy: 1. Secure Julen Lopetegui's future with Wolves. 2. Replace Ruben Neves. 3. Get a decent striker who can get 15 goals a season.
Dom: Three simple priorities for Wolves - Lopetegui, Lopetegui and Lopetegui.
Alex: Big summer ahead! 1. Clear out - Lots of players whose time has come to an end at Wolves. Raul Jimenez, Jonny, Ryan Ait-Nouri, Diego Costa, Joao Moutihno, Neves, Daniel Podence, Conor Coady and Adama Traore could all leave. 2. Goals. Since Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves have not scored enough goals. 31 this season, 35 the season before. 3. The goalkeeper. Jose Sa has been too inconsistent.
Dave: Get the Financial Fair Play situation sorted, keep Lopetegui happy and find a goalscorer. Simples!!!
Hwang targets European football with Wolvespublished at 15:38 7 June
15:38 7 June
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan has his eyes fixed on playing European football at Molineux and is setting his sights high for the 2023-24 season.
Bottom at Christmas, Wolves were transformed under new boss Julen Lopetegui and eventually finished in 13th place, a serene seven points clear of the drop zone.
Hwang believes they have the infrastructure and playing squad to kick on next season.
"We have not been at the top of the game this season," he told the club website. "But my aim for next is to try to reach those top places.
"We have many good players and can do more than what we have shown. We have the quality to fight for the top places.
"I want to achieve things with Wolves and would like to reach European tournaments with the team. We have to aim high."
What are your three summer priorities?published at 11:55 6 June
11:55 6 June
It’s already nine days since the end of the season – only 67 days to go until the 2023-24 season kicks off again.
So in that time, what should Wolves be focusing on?
We want you to tell us your three summer priorities for the club.
Transfer gossip: Spurs target Wolves' Kilmanpublished at 07:54 6 June
07:54 6 June
Tottenham will back incoming manager Ange Postecoglou with funds to rival Newcastle for Leicester's England midfielder James Maddison, 26, and target Brentford's Spain goalkeeper David Raya, 27, and Wolves' English defender Max Kilman, 26. (Mirror, external)
Moutinho, Traore and Costa to leave Wolvespublished at 15:11 3 June
15:11 3 June
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves have confirmed the departure of Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Diego Costa this summer on the expiry of their contracts.
Moutinho leaves after five years and more than 200 appearances for the club, winning Player of the Season in his debut campaign.
A statement from Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs hailed a "glittering career in old gold" for the Portugal international.
"Joao’s going to go down as one of the best players to ever pull on the old gold, in my opinion," Hobbs added
"He was an integral part of the team the entire time he was here. Our success over the last four or five years, he’s been instrumental in."
Traore joined Wolves in the same summer as Moutinho and made his 194th appearance for the club at Arsenal on the final day of the season.
Hobbs praised the Spaniard's character and did not rule out the possibility of a contract extension, stating he is a player "we’d like to keep" and that the expiry of his contract "doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity to still come to an agreement."
Costa played 25 times for Wolves this season, scoring once in the Premier League and being described by Hobbs as an "incredible teammate".
Transfer news: Barca could use Fati in Neves pursuitpublished at 08:06 2 June
08:06 2 June
Barcelona want to sell Spain forward Ansu Fati this summer and hope to offload him to Wolves in exchange for 30m euros (£26m) and their Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves. However, the 20-year-old is not keen on a Molineux switch. (Sport), external
"Captain Fantastic! Mr Consistent! Legend! When times were tough, Ruben got stuck in and helped dig this team out of the mire. He gives his heart and soul every time he pulls on the old gold shirt. The six years of Ruben at Molineux have been amazing!"
Coady to return after Everton loan spellpublished at 10:19 1 June
10:19 1 June
Image source, Reuters
Everton have confirmed that centre-back Conor Coady will return to Wolves having reached the end of his season-long loan spell at Goodison Park.
The England international, 30, played 25 times for the Toffees, scoring twice.
Everton also confirmed that ex-Wolves left-back Ruben Vinagre will return to his parent club Sporting Lisbon.
Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell said: "We want to sincerely thank Conor and Ruben for their impeccable professionalism and valuable contributions both on and off the pitch during their time with the club.
"We wish both players the best in their futures."
The question for Lopetegui is - 'do you want this, or not?'published at 17:53 31 May
17:53 31 May
Mike Taylor, BBC WM
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Wolves reached 40 points three weeks ago and their fans were jubilant. Although on course for their lowest total since promotion, it was far beyond what seemed likely when they sank to the bottom of the table before the World Cup. They could look forward to a stress-free end of season and plan properly for the future.
Instead, Wolves shambled off stage on Sunday, comprehensively dismantled for the second time in a month.
Most of their supporters sat defiantly through it, waiting to the end to applaud politely, not least to say farewell to Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves. Julen Lopetegui had been serving a touchline ban so could not share the spotlight, but now he is in the full glare.
This summer should not have been about Lopetegui. Rescuing Wolves with time to spare really was an achievement. "I can't say a miracle, because it was real," he said on Sunday.
What should have been the next stage in resetting the squad towards longer-term ambitions has been soured by Lopetegui's recent claim that he had only just been made aware of the club's FFP caution, and his alarm at the consequences.
Searching between the lines is dangerous, but Lopetegui has had opportunities to clarify his future, and pointedly not done so.
However much Wolves have available to spend this summer and where they generate it from, the top priorities have been clear for some time. They still need a reliable goalscorer, and the likely departures of Neves and Joao Moutinho leave midfield vacancies.
But all this is now secondary. No doubt the research into possible recruits continues, but in a competitive market, divided clubs are not attractive.
Lopetegui has had meetings with chairman Jeff Shi and they will doubtless remain in regular contact. But, if he feels his public complaints will bounce the board into a different approach, he may be disappointed. Circumstances could change, but for now Wolves cannot afford to be big net spenders.
They also cannot afford to have an unhappy coach, grumbling in public. Lopetegui is right to say the job is going to be difficult, but the constraints cannot be wished away.
Hopefully, he and the club will settle on a plan that will convince him it can work. But they must ask him now - do you want this, or not?
Lopetegui won't liepublished at 08:18 31 May
08:18 31 May
Image source, Getty Images
Simon Stone, BBC Sport
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has been talking about his managerial philosophy.
As with the uncertainty over his job amid Wolves' financial situation, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach's bluntness can sometimes lead to awkward conversations, either on the touchline or in the dressing room.
But at least everyone knows where he stands.
"It is about character," he said.
"Sometimes when I see myself I don't like me. I think he is crazy. He is mad. But the next match I am the same. Sorry, it is me.
"Each coach has his way. I try to be honest and direct with the players and don't ever lie.
"For me that is important, I can have mistakes but you can never tell me I lie to you. I prefer to be honest. Sometimes the truth is not good for me but it is the truth."
Transfer gossip: Wolves enter race for Bojangpublished at 07:53 31 May
07:53 31 May
Wolves have joined Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the race for Gambia Under-20 forward Adama Bojang, 19, who plays for Gambian side Steve Biko FC. (Standard, external)
Season rating: 4/10. It could have been a disaster for Wolves but thankfully Julen Lopetegui has saved us from further embarrassment. Wolves are the lowest goalscorers again though, something that seriously needs to be addressed. Despite finishing 13th, it's been a really disappointing season in terms of results and quality of football.
Best player: Ruben Neves. Nobody really stands out this season for me but Neves has probably put in the most consistent run of performances. It is likely he is going to move on and I am sure every Wolves fan will wish him well after some fantastic seasons at the club.
Happy with your manager? I am happy and hope Lopetegui continues next season. There is too much uncertainty around his position at the moment though and that needs to be sorted sooner rather than later for Wolves to push on this summer. Since joining the club, he has transformed our home form. That ultimately kept Wolves in the Premier League.
What needs to improve for next season? The goalscoring record. We were the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season and average a really poor amount of goals for the last three seasons under Nuno, Bruno Lage and Lopetegui. Although things improved when the new head coach came in, it is still far from good enough.
Best performance: The 3-0 home win over Liverpool. It was a real shock for Wolves fans and I think we stunned Liverpool with our early goals. We made it look so comfortable and it was one of few memorable results this season.
Player you would most like to sign: More creativity in the final third is needed along with a number nine who knows where the net is. We have been linked with Coventry's Viktor Gyokeres and I would be interested to see how he would get on. Alex Scott from Bristol City looks a really talented player too - I would love to sign him up.
Any other business: Wolves need to crack on and sort out how they want the 2023-24 season to go. Whispers of financial trouble need to be addressed sooner rather than later as well as Lopetegui's future.
Analysis: Arsenal 5-0 Wolvespublished at 20:17 28 May
20:17 28 May
Steve Sutcliffe, BBC Sport
There was a heavy end-of-season feel to this Wolves performance, which lacked energy, intensity and organisation, with their objective of avoiding relegation achieved with three games remaining.
Their defending was passive throughout and they watched Arsenal weave pretty patterns around them with their passing. There was also little in attack to excite their travelling fans as they failed to register a single effort on target.
And their showing was also a stark reminder of the investment required in their squad to compete and potentially retain head coach Julen Lopetegui over the summer, despite walking a Financial Fair Play tightrope.
The Wolves boss has spoken regularly of his desire to make progress and of his own ambitions but whether they can be fulfilled at Molineux remains to be seen.
