'I'm waiting': Wolves boss Vitor Pereira speaks bluntly on summer transfer window - 'it isn't easy'

Wolverhampton Wanderers faced a challenging 2024/25 campaign and fans may be heading into the new season with similar worries after a lack of early incomings in the transfer window.

Their summer business so far has been headlined by two big-name departures in Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and neither player has been officially replaced as of yet. Arguably Wolves’ two best players last season, the pair signed for the opposing Manchester clubs with the Molineux outfit receiving a combined fee of around £93.5m.

With this kind of money at their disposal, it is difficult to justify just two new signings having been brought in, Fer Lopez and Jorgen Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo, the latter of whom already had a buy obligation in a loan deal last term. A lot more work must be done. Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira has spoken out about his true feelings regarding the West Midlands club’s lack of transfer activity so far.

Vitor Pereira frustrated with transfer activity - ‘it isn’t easy’

Speaking in an interview with O Jogo, Pereira said: “I’m waiting. I honestly believe the club has been working hard, but the market isn’t easy. It’s easy for teams with a lot of money, so they just have to come in and get what they want. I’ve seen some million-dollar signings, but we don’t have that capacity, so we have to be more organised.

“But of course I have to understand the market. I have to understand that the market isn’t easy, but time is passing, and I know that in a month we’ll face City, already loaded with reinforcements, and we can’t make the same mistake as last year, which was starting the championship poorly, falling into the relegation zone, and then it’s a pain.

“I should be working with everyone right now, preparing ourselves to be as competitive as possible right from the start, but I’m working with ten or twelve young players from the academy and I can’t prepare properly and as we should because the team is missing key positions, and we’re waiting.”

Wolves must act fast to avoid familiar problems

As Pereira said himself, this is a familiar dance for Wolves fans. Sell key players with the promise of bringing in replacements, fall short of the transfer activity the manager or fans want, and face struggles the following season as a result.

The Old Gold have started slowly in each of the past two seasons with Gary O’Neil at the helm, after Julen Lopetegui walked away in August 2023 due to exactly this issue, a lack of transfer business. O’Neil and Bruno Lage also voiced concerns over having a squad which could ‘compete in the Premier League’.

Pereira has recently reassured fans that he will not do the same as Lopetegui and walk away, but this does not change the fact that Wolves’ owners Fosun must provide the funds for new signings if another managerial relationship is not to turn sour. Wanderers have reportedly lodged an offer for Palmeiras ace Richard Rios, while Jhon Arias is set to sign from fellow Brazilian side Fluminense in a £19m deal.