Julen Lopetegui
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui says he needs a clear picture of the club’s transfer plans as talks continue about next season.
The manager has played down the suggestion he would walk away if he’s not happy but does want clarity about spending plans as Wolves prepare for another season in the top flight.
Lopetegui has led the team to Premier League safety having taken over in November with them bottom of the table. He has been in talks with club for the last couple of weeks and says he has learned details he wasn’t aware of when he joined. That’s in relation to Financial Fair Play rules and how they could limit the club’s spending this summer.
The manager says he is realistic in the type of signings he wants, but he would prefer to get the full picture now rather than later in the summer.
Julen Lopetegui said: “I talk every day, more or less. We are talking about the present and the possible future. What is going to be the possible future, about the possibility to invest and to imagine the team we can achieve. At the moment, I think we have to continue talking to know better in the next days to have the possibility or idea of where we are and where we want to go. We are talking in a healthy environment, in a positive way, trying to know better what is going to be our real situation.”
Lopetegui says the club had a fight to stay up this past season, despite investment. And with rivals likely to spend again, he says it is important plans are in place early.
Julen Lopetegui added: “That is why it is very important to be ready for the next season and why I want to know more about our possibilities to have more clear my future next year. After I have seen this picture I can transmit my thoughts about the next year. Now is the moment to talk, now is the moment to discuss, now is the moment to take a decision, not after one or two months. It is now. That is all. This is normal in a lot of teams. Maybe here it is highlighted more because we are safe three matches before. We have put the focus on other issues. But this is the situation.”
The manager says he isn’t aiming too high with transfers,
Julen Lopetegui saying: “I am not asking for incredible signings. I am thinking of signing good players, young players, maybe Championship players, I don’t know. I am not thinking we are going to sign from Real Madrid or Barcelona, no. I am aware of our reality. But in our reality we have to be demanding now if we want to be demanding after.”
Asked whether he may have to decide whether to stay or go,
Julen Lopetegui added: “I have a contract here. I am a coach for next year here now. After, we will see what will happen because this is football.”
Wolves play their final game of the season on Sunday when they are away to Arsenal. They were denied a win last weekend by Yerry Mina’s 99th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at home to Everton.
