Cash-rich Wolves ready to take Premier League by storm after busy summer of business
The newly-promoted side have spent big this summer, breaking their transfer record amidst 12 new signings
THE Premier League is about to be set upon by a pack of ravenous Wolves.
Big-spending Nuno Espirito Santo, backed by wealthy owners Fosun, finished the transfer window the way he started it — splashing the cash like it was going out of fashion.
Molineux’s Portuguese boss took his summer spending to an eye-watering £80million yesterday as Anderlecht’s Belgian international midfielder Leander Dendoncker joined on a season-long loan ahead of a £12m permanent move in 2019.
Wanderers’ need to satisfy Financial Fair Play rules has seen the top-flight new-boys become impressively creative.
Yet if Nuno had his way it would have been closer to a £100m splurge as he narrowly missed out on luring Manchester City’s Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Midlands.
It was a rare transfer malfunction in a summer crammed with stellar signings, including new £22m club-record signing Adama Traore from Middlesbrough.
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Most newly promoted clubs dip their toe in the water when they step-up from the Championship.
But Wolves announced their arrival by doing a bomb off the 10metre platform to make an almighty splash in football’s biggest pond.
Their spending has caused more than a ripple of concern among many of their established Premier League rivals, who are concerned by the strength and depth of Wolves’ investments.
The impressive thing is they are not speculating on high-risk arrivals. Wolves’ pack of 2018-19 will not be fazed by the Prem — they will lap it up.
With the sound advice and influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes, they have picked up players with vast experience in the Champions League, the European Championships and World Cup.
Keeper Rui Patricio and midfield maestro Joao Moutinho were part of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad and strutted their stuff in Russia this summer. Diogo Jota, Raul Jimenez, Jonny Castro Otto have all played for Atletico Madrid.
And Willy Boly was a Champions League regular at Porto, while Traore learned his trade at Barcelona.
It will be 60 years next year since Wolves last won the top flight title but ahead of tomorrow’s season-opener against Everton, they have their eyes on the prize again.