Bruno Lage has asked Wolverhampton Wanderers’ hierarchy to sign ‘three or four top players’ before the transfer window shuts. Wolves have already acquired Jose Sa, Yerson Mosquera, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Francisco Trincao this summer, but Lage wants more to create the competitive squad that he craves. Signing a centre-back and a new midfielder are understood to be priorities for Wolves, while Lage would like to sign at least one striker before the August 31 deadline. Question marks surround the future of striker Patrick Cutrone, so Lage could require an additional forward if the Italian departs Molineux.
Bruno Lage said: “It’s a process. I think we need three or four guys (more players) in different positions, although he wouldn’t confirm the specific areas he wants to strengthen. Top players to help us to be competitive because, see the good example is what happened with Raul (Jimenez) last year. If you miss Raul, OK we had Fabio who did very well, but we need every time to put all the positions in the competitive (environment). I think we have a good squad – we can improve it. We have one month to work on that and two weeks to work on the pitch to be competitive. That’s the plan. They (club) already know what I want, the profiles. I’m very happy for now. Jose… we lose one goalkeeper, you know (Rui) Patricio had a lot of experience but I believe Jose can do good work here. Also John (Ruddy), very happy with him. Strong goalkeeper, experienced. I’m very happy with both ‘keepers and also the two kids (Andreas Sondergaard and Louie Moulden), so we’re working with four, very happy with them. Yerson and Trincao, I think they’re the right players. I already said yesterday to the chief scout this is the type of people we want. Trincao, good opportunity to come to the club to help and be competitive in one position. Also Yerson, good person, good kid, he wants to learn and comes hungry to create a career, very happy also with that. This is the way, this is a process and I think we are in a good way because what we did with the guys who come, everyone is happy.”
Fosun’s man on the ground, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi, is leading the transfer committee with assistance from technical director Scott Sellars. Wolves have expanded their scouting network, with talent-spotters across the globe reporting into Sellars and head of recruitment John Marshall. Super-agent Jorge Mendes also continues to have an influence and directly represents three of Wolves’ four summer signings, in addition to Lage. Explaining how the club are now handling transfers,
Bruno Lage explained: “When we start talking to people, Wolves try to link everyone in the process, that’s also my way to work. All the departments of the club are being fantastic, they want to know my ideas. In the first days I was in the hotel, I tried to meet everyone, we did a lot of zoom meetings to know everyone and start to work as soon as possible. They also want to know my ideas, especially the chief scout, ‘What do you think about the team, what’s the profile you want for the positions we want?’. I try to involve everyone in this process, to hire competitive players and create a competitive team.”
