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Explained: Wolves’ recruitment process and who has the final say between Nuno, Fosun and Mendes

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are performing well on the pitch, but the Midlands outfit deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve handed themselves off it.

Wolves have been quick to tie down important players, aren’t overspending on ageing talent, won’t sell their most valuable assets and are looking to sign youngsters to develop to first-team level.

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Which club did Wolves sign Raul Jimenez from?

Max Kilman and John Ruddy’s deals expire this summer, but Nuno Espirito Santo has been full of praise for Kilman and is likely to retain his services past 2020. Ruddy is expendable as a No.2, but he may be kept too.

Willy Boly and Romain Saiss and are the only first-teamers out of contract in 2021, but talks opened with Boly in October 2019 while Saiss’ fine form this season should also result in an extension.

Wolves’ spending habits have changed dramatically since Fosun International purchased the club in 2016, Jorge Mendes came to the club in 2017 and since the Midlands outfit were promoted to the Premier League in 2018. As per Transfermarkt, they had a net spend of £29.8m in 2016/17, £16.46m in 2017/18, £80.06m in 2018/19 and £84.69m in 2019/20. Before Fosun, they had a net spend of -£5.16m in 2015/16.

In the last three seasons, Wolves have signed more players from Portuguese-based clubs (three from FC Porto, two from SL Benfica, one from Sporting CP, one from Rio Ave and one from Estoril) while recruiting a lot of Mendes’ clients too – Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, Rui Patricio, Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto, Helder Costa, Joao Moutinho, Ivan Cavaleiro and Roderick Miranda.

Mendes has a lot of influence at Wolves, but The Athletic said in February that Kevin Thelwell was the one everyone reported to – he scouted players, sorted out contracts and helped expand the academy. His move to New York Red Bulls will strengthen Mendes’ position, but Nuno has final say on players brought in.

Wolves continue to sign clients of Gestifute, but they’re also looking to sign young talent that can develop at Compton and become regulars in the first-team. It’s why the 19-year-old Enzo Loiodice and 19-year-old Leonardo Campana were brought in from FC Dijon and Barcelona SC Guayaquil in respectively.

They’re targeting players that haven’t reached their peak so the asking prices haven’t skyrocketed – Raul Jimenez is the only signing made above the age of 24 this season. Wolves are expected to bring in a new centre-back this summer and have been linked with Gabriel Magalhaes (aged 22), Tosin Adarabioyo (22) and Ruben Dias (22) among others so it’s clear they’re planning for the future.

And if Wolves want to continue progressing, they have to keep their best players. Clubs are circling for Jimenez, Adama Traore and Jota, but it doesn’t appear they will be sold. So with Wolves retaining top talent and strengthening the squad with affordable young players, the future is bright.

Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.