Wolves predictions: Low-scorers could succumb to the drop
- Wolves were the lowest scorers in the division last season
- Captain and talisman Ruben Neves has departed
- Recommended bet: Back Wolves to be relegated
Wolves finished 13th last season but a summer of uncertainty means they are live candidates for relegation this season, with some major departures having taken place and incomings much slower to materialise than expected.
Last season
Wolves flirted with relegation last season but sacked Bruno Lage and brought in former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui, who managed to steer them to 13th after taking over.
The side did spend heavily in 2022-23 however and not all of those purchases have come to fruition.
Only Nottingham Forest and Leeds had a worse away record than Wolves last season and they were the lowest-scorers in the division, scoring just 31 times in 38 games.
The manager
Lopetegui is a former Real Madrid and Spain manager who was brought in halfway through last season after Lage’s departure.
The 56-year-old was rightly praised for keeping his new side in the division but has been vocal in his criticism of the Wolves ownership in recent weeks, complaining about a lack of spending on the squad that he claimed had been promised after staving off relegation.
Transfers
Wolves’ captain and midfield rock Ruben Neves has departed for Saudi Arabia, while central defender Nathan Collins has made the switch to Brentford.
The club’s joint-top scorer from last season Raul Jimenez has also departed to Fulham, leaving a much changed core of the team for this season.
Right-back Matt Doherty returns after a spell at Tottenham but any major incomings have been slow to materialise, with a proposed move for Bristol City’s Alex Scott looking increasingly unlikely.
Strengths and weaknesses
Goals have been a major issue for Wolves in the last three seasons, they have not netted more than 40 in any of those campaigns, and their joint-top scorers last season scored just six times.
The departure of creative spark and talisman Neves will not help on that front and Wolves and Lopetegui need signings such as Matheus Cunha to step up to fill the void.
They do have a number of interesting young players such as Max Killman, Hugo Bueno and Fabio Silva however and their performances will be key to any success they do have.
Best outright bet
Wolves have significantly weakened their squad from last season and they were the lowest-scorers in the division that time around so look in real danger.
The lack of goals, combined with an unhappy manager and a team that are poor on the road does not spell for a happy season.
The club spent their way out of danger last season but that money has not been so forthcoming this time around and that could cost them.
