Wolves’ big clear-out is a gamble but fans should hold their nerve

The next two or three weeks could prove incredibly frustrating for supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They might not be particularly pleasant for Julen Lopetegui, either.

Wolves are back in training, beginning their preparations for the new Premier League season after finishing 13th in 2022-23, but they have yet to make a genuine first-team signing.

It was always likely to be like this.

As Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, found out recently, folk don’t generally take kindly to being told to “hold their nerve”, but that is where Wolves fans and the Wolves head coach find themselves.

New signings will come, and when they do, they might well give the team a new, exciting look, but until then, patience will be required.

Tom King, 28, is the only new arrival so far this summer and, as sporting director Matt Hobbs admitted in the statement confirming his signing, the former Newport County and Salford City goalkeeper has been recruited to be Wolves’ No 3, allowing Matija Sarkic to move on and Louie Moulden and Jackson Smith to gain vital game time on loan. King is unlikely to figure in the Premier League next season barring a major injury crisis.

Currently, despite a lengthy list of ‘persons of interest’ on Hobbs’ laptop after extensive work from Wolves’ scouting team, there are no other deals close to being completed for incoming players.

Instead, the focus remains on those leaving Molineux.

Already gone is Ruben Neves, 26, who completed a £47million ($59.6m) to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal last month.

Neither Joao Moutinho, 36, nor Diego Costa, 34, are being retained for next season after their contracts expired.