Comment: Wolves need to walk before they run, but it can be a golden year

Taking last season’s title-winning squad, four have been added so far (Rui Patricio, Jonny Castro, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez) and four have departed (Barry Douglas, Benik Afobe, Alfred N’Diaye, Roderick Miranda).

In bringing in two quality-laden Portuguese internationals in their early thirties, a Mexican international striker and a young (ish) Spaniard with a strong reputation from La Liga, Wolves have on paper upgraded what they had.

In terms of numbers Nuno Espirito Santo has 21 ‘first team’ players at his disposal.

At the moment that includes Ruben Vinagre, Bright Enobakhare and Morgan Gibbs-White, which chimes with what sporting director Kevin Thelwell stated at the start of the summer when asked about squad size.

“It’s be quality over quantity,” Thelwell said on May 29.

“We’re looking at having a smaller group of senior players, supported by a strong group of young and hungry players.

“Nuno prefers to work with a leaner squad so without question we’re looking at that model, a squad of maybe 19 or 20 seniors and the rest will be younger players who are going to grow with us.”

In the final days of the window more deals could be done, but it’s unlikely will splurge or panic buy given the strong foundations on which they’re building.

The likes of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Willy Boly were identified last year as being players who wouldn’t just help Wolves get to the Premier League, but be good enough to help them stay there too.

Adama Traore is a first-choice option if the price is right, but otherwise the mood at Molineux seems fairly relaxed.

And – aside from a couple of holes in the squad, i.e. a shortage of back-up in central midfield and at wing-back – why shouldn’t that be the case?

Yet among the fanbase there appears, for pretty much the first time in 12 months, to be a murmur of dissent in the ranks. Or at the very least some questions being asked.

If the ruthless Afobe sale split opinion then the departure of Douglas to Leeds was met with an almost universal thumbs down.

Judgement on that deal can’t be fully passed down until August 9, but there’s a definite feeling among the fanbase that more signings are needed. If they aren’t of the marquee variety then there will be murmurings of discontent.

Even in pre-season results have an impact...if Wolves had won handsomely at Stoke and Derby the mood would be different.

Expectations perhaps have to be tempered a touch. Then again the big talk from Messrs Thelwell (“the sky’s the limit”) and Dalrymple (“we want to be within the elite in English football”) earlier this summer doesn’t exactly chime with settling for 17th either.

Fosun aren’t hiding their ambitions, but Wolves need to walk in the Premier League before they can think about running.

As it stands they look well placed to survive this season.

There will be pitfalls and challenges ahead (the notion of losing two games in a row isn’t one Nuno has had to deal with for two seasons, let alone one, owing to his year at Porto).

One of those will be keeping the squad happy. By discarding Douglas and Afobe and eschewing (as expected) John Ruddy and Ryan Bennett from the starting XI, that’s four of last season’s title winners moved on or out the team.

Retaining the cohesive team spirit that took them so far last season is vital and not giving the champions a chance to test themselves risks upsetting the dynamic.

If their replacements display the attitude, work-rate and humility that took Wolves so far last season, they can thrive.