Wolves at crossroads with Julen Lopetegui’s future to be decided imminently

23 May 2023 , 13:16

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Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui

Wolves round off a tumultuous Premier League campaign away at Arsenal on Sunday, but stand on the precipice of yet more uncertainty.

For much of this campaign, their trip to the Emirates had been earmarked by home supporters as a potential coronation. After leading the Premier League title race for 248 days, many anticipated a home game against relegation strugglers as the perfect sign off.

As things transpired, the Gunners will have to settle for second place, while Wolves ’ fears of dropping to the Championship were eradicated with three games to spare. But even with their top-flight status secured, this weekend’s game has taken on extra importance.

It was already pinned as the end of an era at Molineux with a host of some of the club’s most iconic players in a generation leaving. Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Adama Traore all look likely to leave in what will close the book on a memorable period at the Black Country club.

However, with Julen Lopetegui in the dugout there is a sense of cautious optimism. The former Spain and Real Madrid coach arrived in the Midlands with Wolves marooned at the bottom of the table with 10 points from 15 matches.

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But under his astute leadership, Wolves hit the 40-point mark with time to spare, and have genuine reason to believe that next season would be better. Ahead of a summer which will be more revolution than evolution, the presence of Lopetegui was a reassuring one.

That certainty now appears anything but, though. He sparked fears about the club’s financial situation when admitting all was not at it seemed ahead of the upcoming window.

"I have had that meeting [with Shi] and there are some Financial Fair Play problems I didn't know before," the former Sevilla coach said last week. "I hope we will solve this issue. It's very difficult to compete in the Premier League without investment.

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"Despite the club investing this year it has been a very hard year so we have to learn the lesson and do our homework to try to improve the team."

Premier League rules dictate that a club can only post losses of £105 million over a three-year period, with their latest financial results showing a £46.1m loss. And a misguided transfer strategy 12 months ago did little to alleviate those issues.

Morgan Gibbs-White was the major departure, a signing for Nottingham Forest which went a long way to securing their own survival. But his replacement in Goncalo Guedes - signed for £27.5m - was an unmitigated disaster. Matheus Nunes arrived for a club-record £38m just weeks later.

A year on and Wolves may have to pay the piper. Neves will surely leave, as may some others if the anticipated rebuild is to take place. That is now the least of supporters’ fears, with reports Lopetegui could walk over broken promises.

Ruben Neves is one of a clutch of Wolves stars set to leave Molineux ((Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images))

He made it clear that investment was required this summer if they were to avoid another scrap at the bottom of the table next term. After spending his career at the top of the game, an annual fight against the drop doesn’t appeal.

Further talks between Lopetegui and chairman Jeff Shi are expected to take place this week, with a plan needing to be put in place for a pivotal window. Fosun, the club’s owners, backed the new boss in January and will need to place a similar investment this time around.

There is no doubt whose side fans will come down on, with the board coming under intense scrutiny prior to the appointment of the popular head coach. Any situation which leads to another managerial change will risk full-scale outrage.

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Wolves supporters are sure to make their feelings crystal clear in the capital this weekend. Losing the club’s most prized asset before approaching the biggest change the on-field product has seen in their tenure could prove disastrous.

Ben Husband