Wolves looking at deals for loan stars
Wolves haven’t ruled out making permanent moves for any of their five loan stars, sporting director Kevin Thelwell has suggested.
And Thelwell also confirmed the club will look to snap up top scorer Diogo Jota from Atletico Madrid in January.
As well as Jota, Wolves also have Leo Bonatini, Willy Boly, Ruben Vinagre and Alfred N’Diaye on loan deals from Al Hilal, Porto, Monaco and Villarreal respectively.
All five players are on loan for the season – and there are options in place to buy each of them when their temporary moves end.
Thelwell, speaking a meeting of the Wolves Fans’ Parliament, said: “There’s not a culture here to develop players for other clubs. We do it for ourselves so they come with us.”
Proposed fees for all five players are thought to be realistically within Wolves' price range.
Portuguese youth international Jota has caught the eye in particular with six goals so far this season.
As reported in the Express & Star earlier this week, Wolves are hoping to buy him for an eight-figure fee in January, although the proposed deal wouldn’t eclipse the £15m club record that Wolves shelled out to buy Ruben Neves in the summer.
Thelwell said on Jota: “There is a possibility we could buy him in January but we would need Atletico Madrid’s permission.
“We have an option to buy him in the summer. There is a need to strengthen the central striker position in January.”
Thelwell added that players loaned out by Wolves may be recalled in January.
“With one or two, there are options for other clubs to buy – but at a level that would be advantageous to us,” he said.
In relation to whether Wolves would have to sell prize assets if they don’t win promotion this season, Thelwell said no-one could question Fosun’s commitment.
“I think Fosun have stated in the 14 months they have been here what their raison d’etre is….getting to the Premier League, staying in it and achieving in it,” he said. “It’s a question of when we get there, not if we get there.”
And Jeff Shi, who also attended the meeting, added: “The only barrier (to signing players) is Financial Fair Play. We will keep investing into the club. We are investing in a young, talented, very hungry group of players.”
