Laurie Dalrymple: Jorge Mendes "not in charge" of Wolves recruitment
Wolves managing director Laurie Dalrymple has denied suggestions super agent Jorge Mendes is in charge of the club’s recruitment.
Dalrymple was speaking at the unveiling of new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, a Mendes client.
The 43-year-old’s appointment at Molineux has again turned the spotlight on the relationship between Wolves and the agent, who has close links with owners Fosun.
Wolves signed a number of players from Mendes’ GestiFute agency following Fosun's takeover last summer, including record deals for Portuguese duo Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa.
Espirito Santo has replaced Paul Lambert in the Wolves hotseat. The Scot departed Molineux by mutual consent earlier this week and is thought to be unhappy at Mendes’ influence on club transfer policy.
But Dalrymple denied the relationship between Mendes and Wolves was in any way unhealthy.
“Jorge Mendes is not in charge of the recruitment of this club,” said Dalrymple. “He can’t be. It is not within the rules.
“However, is he a known associate of the owners? Yes he is. He is a friend and he has been for some time. There has never been any secret about that.”
Silvio, Ola John and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson were all signed with the help of Mendes over the past 12 months.
Dalrymple added: “Are we any different to any other club as to how we operate our recruitment plan? No, we are probably not.
“We have a very established team within the club headed by Kevin (Thelwell). We have a team who look at players from any number of sources, including Jorge and GestiFute.
“The bottom line is we want the best players to come into this club to take this team come from, no matter where they come from. If the man in the moon is good enough, we will look at him and look to sign him.”
