Premier League survival is the first aim for around half of the top-flight clubs, and Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers certainly fall into that category.
And that’s not to say avoiding the drop is the height of Wolves’ ambitions; this is a proud club with greater aspirations than an annual struggle to stay out of the mire. With the 2024/25 relegation battle concluded well before the season end, the All Golds finished in 16th place, a whopping 17 points clear of the doomed trio, thanks to a strong second half of the campaign, powered by goals from Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Now the question is, can Wolves kick on into mid-table security or, in the toughest league in world football, do they have another long struggle looming on the horizon? As is always the case the pre-season Premier League 2025 betting odds make all three promoted teams the favourites to go down, as they have over the past two campaigns. But Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland have different ideas and are all busy strengthening their squads in preparation for the new challenge, investing in players with the physical attributes to compete in the top flight and some Premier League experience. As this SBOTOP writer (a Burnley fan) knows, the Clarets’ signing of Kyle Walker from Manchester City is the type of move which will worry rivals, whether they care to admit it or not.
And the direction of travel at Wolves, so far this summer, will be little comfort to their fans.
The loss of star striker Matheus Cunha to Manchester United and midfield ace Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City has left two big gaps in terms of goals and creativity while it brought in a combined £100m to strengthen the club’s coffers. Meanwhile winger
Pablo Sarabia has gone to Al Arabi while centre defensive rock Craig Dawson has been released; and that one is a head scratcher.
Getting it right in the big moments at both ends of the pitch is crucial to any team’s survival or success in the Premier League and, while it was always going to be difficult to hold on to Brazilian striker Cunha, surely Wolves could have give Dawson another year. He’s been a super operator as a strong centre back, good on the ball and a goal threat throughout his stints at West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United and Wolves. And, at the same age as Burnley’s Walker, Dawson is a leader in the dressing room, which is so crucial for teams scrapping for survival.
Wolves and Burnley played out a pre-season 1-1 draw in Portugal last week, by the way and, while friendlies are all about fitness, conditioning and strategy, I suspect the two teams will be in the same mini-league next season.
Pereira has retained 33 year old defender Matt Doherty, but, in other Premier League 2025 news, it looks like 31 year old wingback Nelson Semedo, who became captain last winter, is on his way having, so far, failed to respond to an offer of a four year contract extension and the club is now preparing for life without the Portuguese star.
Wolves are getting close to signing 22-year-old right back Marc Pubill from Almeria, a player previously tracked by AC Milan, and they have made a couple of other good moves. Forward Jorgen Strand Larsen has made his loan from Celta Vigo permanent and he’s been joined by Fer Lopez in a £19.5m switch from Celta. Norwegian star Larsen scored 14 goals last term, gathering serious momentum after the arrival of Pereira in the dugout, while 21-year-old attacking midfielder Lopez may need more careful integration.
And Wolves are about to unveil another attacking midfield capture in the shape of 27-year-old Colombian Jhon Arias from Fluminense. He has been at the Brazilian club for four campaigns, scoring 32 goals in 162 appearances and three in 31 for Los Cafeteros, since his international debut in 2022. Arias is no giant at 5ft 7in, but his low centre of gravity and skilful dribbling will make him a good watch in the Premier League. He’s an exciting signing but, again, it sometimes takes a few months or even a season for overseas players to get up to pace in the English top flight.
Pereira did a brilliant job in pulling Wolves away from the drop zone last season but he too is relatively new to the Premier League. His arrival at Molineux was his tenth job since he left Porto in 2013 and that is a factor which may prey on Wolves’ fans minds.
The next four weeks will be crucial for Wolverhampton and they certainly need to strengthen…and then the hard work begins.
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