Wolves squad audit: Where do they need to strengthen - and who could leave? (2024)

Sign up for The Athletic today with our limited-time Tournament Sale offer.

Gary O’Neil is keen to reshape Wolves’ squad this summer.

Despite the desire for the club to break even on transfer business in the window that opens today (Friday), O’Neil wants extra depth, especially in forward areas, after injuries bit hard at the end of last season. But the core for the 2024-25 campaign will still comprise players who wore the old gold shirt in the one that just concluded.

So The Athletic has looked at every player in that first-team group, their contract situations and their likely prospects.

Goalkeepers — 3

Jose Sa (contract expires 2027)

The Portugal international should remain as Wolves’ No 1 but they are aware of interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, and a big offer could tempt them to sell, which would necessitate the signing of a replacement.

Dan Bentley (2025)

Wolves have a two-year option here. Effectively, they have No 2 goalkeeper Bentley tied down until summer 2027, so there is no rush to discuss any new deal.

Tom King (2027)

Highly valued as a member of the dressing room and a solid trainer, but very much the No 3 goalkeeper.

Transfer needs: Bentley’s lack of experience in the Premier League would be a concern if Sa got a significant injury but limited financial resources mean recruiting a goalkeeper is not a priority unless the latter departs.

Get the latest transfer news onThe Athletic…

• Transfer news and analysis|Follow David Ornstein
• Join The Athletic Insiders WhatsApp channel
• Sign up for The Athletic FC newsletter

Defenders — 13

Maximilian Kilman (contract expires 2028)

Wolves are confident they will retain their captain, who played every minute of last season’s Premier League. But having rejected bids approaching £30million ($38m) from then Italian champions Napoli a year ago, they are aware of rumours of fresh interest this summer, including from fellow Premier League side West Ham. If speculation about offers north of £40m comes to fruition, they would almost certainly sell.

Toti Gomes (2029)

A key part of Wolves’ plans and seems certain to remain.

Craig Dawson (2025)

The 34-year-old centre-back is contracted for next season. Wolves are expected to offer him an extension, but with more pressing issues to deal with this summer, talks to that end are unlikely for at least another few months.

Santi Bueno (2028)

Made a positive early impression after signing last summer and is expected to get more minutes next season.

Yerson Mosquera (2026)

Despite suggesting he would like to remain in Spain when interviewed near the end of his half-season on loan at Villarreal of La Liga, the 23-year-old Colombian is part of Wolves’ plans. The club believe he is happy to return to Molineux and finally take a place in their first-team squad, three years after signing.

Nelson Semedo (2025)

O’Neil is desperate to keep Semedo but with his contract entering its final year, Wolves find themselves in a delicate situation. The Portugal full-back’s wages are at a level the club are moving away from, so he would need to accept a pay cut to extend his near four-year stay.

That could happen but three scenarios remain open. As well as staying put, Semedo, who turns 31 in November, could be sold or he could let his deal run down and become a free agent next summer.

Matt Doherty (2026)

Struggled to recapture the form of his first Molineux spell during his first season back but remains a versatile and valued member of the squad, so he should stay.

Dexter Lembikisa (2026)

The jury is out on whether the Jamaica international will make the Premier League grade but he is just 20 and under contract for two years with an option for a third, so is expected to be given more chances to prove himself.

Ki-Jana Hoever (2026)

Another right-back returning from loan but Hoever is nearly two years older than Lembikisa. Despite a decent loan at Stoke City of the Championship, He is not expected to force his way into Wolves’ plans and will be sold if they receive the right offer.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (2026)

Wolves are aware that Ait-Nouri’s impressive 2023-24 has generated transfer interest but they intend to stand firm and keep the 23-year-old. A club option to keep him until 2027 means they are under no pressure to sell and only a huge offer would tempt them.

Hugo Bueno (2028)

Found his progress held back by a lack of minutes last season and the 21-year-old is liked by clubs in Germany and his native Spain. The Wolves academy graduate will represent pure profit on the accounting books if he goes and the club would sell for the right price.

Nigel Lonwijk (2025)

Wolves rate the 21-year-old highly but he is not ready for their first team. Another loan awaits after spending the past three seasons with four different clubs across Europe, plus talks about a new deal.

Justin Hubner (2025)

For Hubner, read Lonwijk.

Transfer needs: Wolves have enough numbers if they can successfully integrate Mosquera and get Dawson back to his best. They have lists of targets at centre-back and wing-back but are only expected to buy to replace any players that leave — with Semedo, Kilman and Bueno being the most likely to do so.

Midfielders — 7

Mario Lemina (contract expires 2025)

Unlike with Dawson and Semedo, Wolves hold an option to keep Lemina for a further year. They will try to extend his contract but there is no significant time pressure. At 30, Lemina remains an important player.

Boubacar Traore (2027)

Wolves hold an option to extend Traore’s deal until 2028 and he will remain with them next season, looking to build on his encouraging end to the last campaign.

Joao Gomes (2028)

Like Ait-Nouri, 23-year-old Gomes could attract interest from higher-placed clubs but, like with Ait-Nouri, Wolves do not expect to sell. A huge offer could test their resolve but they are planning for him to be a key figure next season. They also have an option to extend his contract to 2029.

Tommy Doyle (2028)

Having only just had his 2023-24 loan from Manchester City converted into a permanent transfer, and with Wolves holding an option to extend his contract for a further two years, Doyle is seen as a part of the club’s future.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (2028)

Suffered a largely underwhelming 2023-24 debut season in the Premier League but showed flashes of his ability and is expected to get at least one more year to prove himself.

Joe Hodge (2027)

After a mixed second half of last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship, 21-year-old Hodge has work to do to forge a career at Molineux. That said, Wolves believe he has potential, so are unlikely to let him leave yet.

Luke Cundle (2026)

After a series of loans, now seems to be the right time for the 22-year-old playmaker to move on.

Transfer needs: Even if Cundle does leave, Wolves are not short of options here, given O’Neil only tends to play two central midfielders. They would look to strengthen if a huge bid forced them to sell Joao Gomes but otherwise, they are likely to go with what they have.

Forwards/wingers — 16

Pablo Sarabia (contract expires 2025)

The Spaniard is Wolves’ highest earner but not a guaranteed starter, so they will look at selling him this summer. Finding a club to pick up his salary might prove a challenge, however, so he could stay until he becomes a free agent in 12 months’ time.

Hwang Hee-chan (2028)

The South Korean delivered his best form yet in a Wolves shirt at the start of last season, his third at Molineux, and will be looking to build on that next time after injuries knocked him a little off-course. A near-certainty to stay.

Matheus Cunha (2027)

A copy and paste from the Ait-Nouri and Joao Gomes situations. Cunha, 25, might attract offers but Wolves do not anticipate selling unless one blows their plans out of the water.

Pedro Neto (2027)

Of all of their ‘big hitters’, Neto is the one Wolves expect to sell. Nothing is guaranteed — his future will depend on the right offers arriving — but this summer has long been assumed to be the window in which Neto leaves, and that has not changed, despite his recent injury issues.

Sasa Kaladjzic (2027)

Regardless of whether O’Neil sees the 26-year-old Austria international as a long-term figure in his plans, Kalajdzic’s rehabilitation from a third serious knee injury will continue well into next season, so he will stay.

Fabio Silva (2026)

The 21-year-old does not see his future at Wolves. Wolves do not see him as part of their plans. Four years after he arrived for a fee of more than £30million, and after three loans to clubs in as many countries, this is the summer they will look to find Silva a permanent move elsewhere.

Goncalo Guedes (2027)

Has no future at Wolves but his book value might still be too high to allow a sale without the club taking a big profitability and sustainability hit. Another loan is more likely to add to his three in the past two seasons, possibly with an option or obligation to buy next summer.

Daniel Podence (2025)

Olympiacos are keen to turn last season’s loan into a permanent transfer and the 28-year-old is happy to stay at Greece’s Europa Conference League champions, but some negotiation is needed for the two clubs to find common ground. Either way, Podence has no future at Wolves.

Chem Campbell (2026)

Despite some promising moments on loan, Campbell has not convinced Wolves he will ever become a Premier League player, so they will look to sell the 21-year-old winger this summer.

Tawanda Chirewa (2026)

Made his first-team breakthrough earlier than expected last season due to injuries, and Wolves liked what they saw. They will need some youngsters to supplement the first-team squad next season and the 20-year-old Zimbabwe international is a likely contender to be one of them.

Nathan Fraser (2025)

Almost left on loan in January and will be allowed to do so this summer if the right club show interest. At 19, needs more regular first-team games than Wolves can give him.

Leon Chiwome (2024)

Talks are ongoing and the 18-year-old striker is expected to agree a new contract. He is then likely to spend a season around Wolves’ first-team squad while playing regularly for their under-21s.

Noha Lemina (2024)

Wolves have yet to decide for certain whether to exercise their option to buy Mario’s 18-year-old brother but at present, it seems more likely the January loanee will return to parent club Paris Saint-Germain.

Enso Gonzalez (2029)

After a frustrating 2023-24 debut season, the 19-year-old Paraguayan winger started being named on the bench for Premier League fixtures in April, and got a brief debut in the penultimate one against Crystal Palace. His next step is likely to be a loan move for more game time.

Chiquinho (2026)

The Portuguese winger impressed after being loaned to Famalicao in his homeland last summer and is attracting interest from other clubs there. Wolves have not ruled out a sale but want to give O’Neil a chance to work with the 24-year-old in pre-season before deciding.

Rodrigo Gomes (2029)

An exciting but raw new signing, the 20-year-old will be eased into the first-team picture next season.

Transfer needs: Many of these forwards are either likely to leave or not yet ready for the first team, so this remains Wolves’ area of biggest need for this summer’s window. At least two quality additions are required, even after the signing of Rodrigo Gomes, at least one of whom needs to be a specialist No 9.

(Top photos: Getty Images)

Steve Madeley has been a journalist for almost 25 years, including nearly 20 years covering sport, mainly football. The majority of his career was spent with the Express & Star in the West Midlands. He has worked for most UK national newspapers and websites including The Times, The Mirror and BBC Sport Online and joined The Athletic in 2019. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMadeley78