Jorge Mendes is asset for Wolves - but no guarantees on Helder Costa future

Portuguese super-agent Mendes has helped Wolves sign a number of players owing to his links with Fosun, including £13m signing Costa.

And Shi said fans didn't need to be at all concerned by Mendes' involvement.

The main director said: "Jorge is my friend, he's always helped the club. Helder is I think the best player in the league...only with his help can we get certain players.

"He's an asset to us. Jorge is a good help and also one part of the whole project.

"I understand, it's maybe a new thing to the club. Some fans will be worried about it, 'an agent is influencing the club and it's for the pocket of him', but I can say...do you think Jorge really needs the money from Wolves?!

"He wants to help us because of our relationship and he loves the club and Fosun."

"He really enjoys the experience of young guys like Helder and Ivan playing very well and get a very good boost for their career. He really enjoys the feeling of that achievement.

"Jorge is the top agent in the world so all the best clients are there. But he is always working with top teams and players. To try and help a Championship club to improve and grow? That's a new challenge for him and he likes to embrace the challenge.

"That's the motivation from Jorge. I want to say to the fans, money is important of course but football is not all about money.

"I can say Jorge shares the same excitement."

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell oversees transfers at the club.

How does the process work between Thelwell, Shi and Mendes?

"For an transfer window Kevin will have a clear plan of what to do," Shi added. "We know we have a very strong relationship with Jorge Mendes and he has good players.

"We will look at his pool of candidates, players Jorge is familiar with or clients of Jorge.

"Kevin will have some homework to watch players and maybe make Jorge's clients more prioritised, so I or he will tell Jorge do you think it's possible, then we'll talk. That's the process. I think it's worked well."

Costa moved from Benfica for £13m in January but rumours are already circulating that he'll be sold in the summer.

Shi added: "When we make the investment can you guarantee we can't sell him? It's not a guarantee. Sometimes maybe fans think it's too easy and when we put the money into a player it's like playing Football Manager...it's not like that! It's not a guaranteed thing.

"When we pay the money to buy him we actually think he is a long term asset to us. Of course we hope he can stay with us and we go to the Premier League together.

"Of course I cannot say...if some club gives us a very good price...and also it's good for Helder to have a bright future, maybe in some very good teams.

"The ultimate strategy is about how to improve the team – if Helder stays, good, he will be helpful for our team. If we have to let him leave it should still be good for the team. Or like before we sold some players in several seasons but never found the right replacements.

"Eventually I cannot say what will happen in the summer or the winter. But we will try our best to improve the team, of course."