Wolves in talks over 'game-changing' China TV deal - and hope to launch overseas tournament

Chinese conglomerate Fosun plan to exert their influence to spread the Wolves name across China.

The club also has ambitions to launch a summer tournament there, and potentially invite opposition teams from France and Portugal.

During a meeting of the Wolves Fans' Parliament, Fosun supremo and main club director Jeff Shi said: "We are in the process of negotiating to purchase some broadcasting rights in China. That will be on 'live' there.

"We are planning to introduce some of our merchandise to China and have ambitions to design a summer tournament in China, maybe even inviting teams from Portugal and France."

Wolves have made no secret of their desire to become one of the biggest clubs in China, since Fosun's £30million takeover.

Shi said recently he wants Wolves to become a 'world class' club and over time perhaps even rival the likes of Manchester United.

Laurie Dalrymple, who was promoted to MD in a hierarchical reshuffle last month, said no other Championship club was exploring the China TV option.

He told the meeting: "The journey is going to be brick by brick but I'm not aware of any other Championship clubs negotiating broadcasting rights in China.

"There's a genuine desire and appetite to increase our profile over there....that accelerates enormously when we are promoted but we want to start it now.

"Matches broadcast live through one of the biggest broadcast channels in China is another game-changer for us."

Broadcaster LETV currently shows EFL matches in China.

And Super Sports Media Group is the exclusive Premier League rights holder in China. It's not known precisely what deal Wolves could negotiate or how many matches could be shown, but there have been similar examples such as all of Cardiff's home matches being broadcast in Malaysia.

During the meeting Shi also stated that he believes Fosun will remain at Wolves for at least 10 years.

He said of their commitment to Wolves: "It's long term. You need time. We may sell one day but not for at least 10 years.

"We need some time to get out of this league and some time to have the players to stay in the Premier League. There is no magic. If you work hard and smartly, you will get what you want.

"In terms of investment, it's very easy. I don't see much difference between a club and other companies but one of the unique things is that other companies aren't so public.

"At football clubs, there is pressure from the fans.....everything is exposed to the public.

"I'm trying to learn about that. It's a new challenge for me.

"We will never change our plan....Fosun will keep investing. We need time to make our team strong enough. Every loss makes me more determined to make us stronger."

SHI ON...APPOINTING ZENGA

"As I think everyone now knows, we had spoken to Julen Lopetegui and but we never reached any agreement.

"He joined the Spanish national team, so I asked a lot of people in our contact network and after one week's hard work, we had two or three names on our list and finally I made a decision.

"I talked to Walter twice. He has been at a lot of clubs across the world, including some very big clubs. He also has a great and distinguished playing career.

"I talked with him and he's a very open and passionate guy. I found out that, in some cases, the owners of his previous clubs were not patient enough."

SHI ON...CHOOSING WOLVES

"From a business view, most of the Premier League clubs were too expensive

"They may be very good clubs but they are not good investment targets. So another idea was to invest in a second-tier club with the ambition and space to grow.

"Some associates of mine recommended me the club, so I went to the home of Steve Morgan and the deal was very smooth.

"I started to learn a lot more about the club when I went to the stadium, the academy and the museum."

SHI ON...SPENDING BIG IN JANUARY?

"I don't think so. The team needs some opportunity to evolve and if you lump on another load of new players, it becomes a bit mixed.

"Some players have to get used to the tempo, a new language, different weather, the Saturday-Tuesday routine.

"There will be some opportunity to sign but not to the level of August.

"Every new signing is for a long-term career here, in the Premier League as well as the Championship.

"It's not a good logic just to sign players who can get us out of the League if we then come down again."