Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui could get swift return to management after sacking

Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui could be offered a quick return to management.

Lopetegui has been out of work since walking away from his Wolves post ahead of the start of the season over a dispute with the club in relation to incomings. Wolves chief Matt Hobbs said after the Spaniard’s exit: “On behalf of everyone at the club I’d like to thank Julen and his staff for their dedication and hard work during their time at the football club.

“They were brought in with the primary aim of keeping the club in the Premier League last season, an objective which they achieved with games to spare.

“While our ambition had been to move into the new season together, it is public knowledge that there were differences of opinion on some key topics, and it was agreed by all parties that it would be best to part ways ahead of the new campaign.

“After a successful pre-season, full of hard work and good performances, Julen and his staff leave the squad in great shape ahead of the season opener next week, which will give his successor the best possible platform for success. We wish Julen and his team the very best of luck for the future, and they will always be welcome at Wolves.”

Almost a month later, Lopetegui could be set to return to management following an early sacking in La Liga. Villarreal have parted ways with Quique Setién after losing three of their first four outings of the season.

The Yellow Submarine made a number of key sales during the summer, selling Pau Torres, Niclolas Jackson and Samu Chukwueze, and while they made some shrewd additions with the likes of Alexander Sorloth, Santi Comesana and Ben Brereton-Diaz, they did not manage to replace the players who left sufficiently.

That has shown early in the season, and it is Setién who has paid the price less than a year after replacing Unai Emery. Setién guided Villarreal to a fifth-place finish last season, but he got off to a poor start that saw the Yellow Submarine suffer an early exit from the Europa Conference League.

Villarreal are now weighing up a move for former Wolves boss Lopetegui, who isn’t likely to be in a position to demand huge wages after his short spell at Wolves, though he will likely want to be promised new signings. The La Liga club can offer that after saving their money over the summer, making huge profits on the sale of their talented trio.

Former Watford and Leeds United boss Javi Gracia has also been linked, along with Marcelo Gallardo.