Latest news with #WolverhamptonWanderers
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Relegation scar will never go away'
Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield took a 10-day holiday to Tenerife this he did not stop working."It's not a job where you switch off, it's always with you, it's an obsession,' he told BBC Look he was there, he met Port Vale's assistant manager Wayne Jacobs in the same hotel, and one of Wolverhampton Wanderers' coaches."I was able to get an insight into what was going on with [Wolves centre-back] Nigel Lonwijk and we were able to sign him [on a season-long loan] off the back of that."So, it literally never stops. "Even on holiday, my wife was a little bit angry that I kept popping off to try and sign someone from Wolves, but it's all part of the fun." 'Heartbroken' Bloomfield left Wycombe Wanderers to join Luton after the departure of Rob Edwards in January. The Hatters were 20th in the Championship table at the time, two points above the relegation form eventually improved - they lost just once in nine Championship games heading into the final day against West Bromwich expected Luton to survive but they lost 5-3 on a devastating day for the club. The Hatters became only the fourth club in the Premier League era to experience successive relegations after a season in the top flight, following Swindon Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and admitted the scars of that final day still linger."Yeah, it'll never go," he said."The boys were heartbroken. The staff were heartbroken. It was incredibly painful, incredibly painful. And like I say, that will never leave us."I think you learn more from your most painful memories than you do from the best memories because they teach you lessons of how you need to evolve and be better for the future."So no, the pain will never go of that day at West Brom, but it's fuel. It's fuel to get better and fuel to drive this football club on to more." 'New core' As he prepares for life in League One, Bloomfield has started a major rebuild of his Carlton Morris and midfielder Thelo Aasgaard have departed, while Nahki Wells, Hakeem Odoffin, and Lonwijk are among eight players to have been signed."It was the right thing for a couple of players to move on," Bloomfield said."The challenge this summer has been players that have played at the top level of the game being wanted elsewhere, and how we manage that situation and how I adapt to that situation has been crucial."It was the right thing for us to freshen it up as well."He added: "I think maybe not the toughest part, just the one that we've been most open to is that psychological effect of what's happened over the last three years going up and down a couple of levels."And then what does it need to look like for us to be successful again?"Evolving the group. Getting a new group to gel. Getting some experienced boys on board was crucial to us building a new core group in the changing room."Luton open the League One season with a home game against AFC Wimbledon on on Friday, 1 August, and Bloomfield has plenty of experience in the third tier as a player and manager at Wycombe. "I know the level extremely well," he said."There's going to be lots of different challenges within the game. Some are going to be physical, other games are going to be more tactical and football-based. "And we have to have a group that's able to adapt to those different games to win them."
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rotherham sign Wolves defender Kaleta
Rotherham United have signed Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Marvin Kaleta for an undisclosed fee on a two-year 20-year-old made 21 league appearances during a loan spell with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell last could make his competitive debut for the Millers when they start their League One season at home to Port Vale on Saturday, 2 August."As a young player the best place to be is where you're given a platform, where everyone buys into you and you buy into a club," Kaleta told the club website., external
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport footballer Ashton Williams signs Premier League deal
The Newport talent who stands at six foot three is bound for Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he will rub shoulders with fellow Welshman and capped goalkeeper, Tom King, who played for Newport County between 2019 and 2021. Ashton, a 16-year-old centre-back and rising star, has already made waves across youth football, after joining Bristol City's football academy at seven and rising through their ranks over nine flourishing years. Ashton is known for his lightning pace, commanding aerial presence, and refined left-footed distribution from the back. His technical ability and physical maturity have impressed scouts from several top Premier League clubs, earning him widespread recognition before even making a senior appearance. The former St Julian's High School pupil has already amassed multiple caps for Wales at U15 and U16 level, with coaches and fans alike viewing him as a standout figure in his age group. He continues to represent his country with pride and ambition, and many believe it's only a matter of time before he rises through the ranks to senior international level. Ashton developed his early grassroots skills with Ashton Football Club, one of the UK's largest youth setups known for producing elite-level talent. While specific accolades haven't been formally listed, the club's tradition of honouring standout players suggests that Ashton's contributions didn't go unnoticed. Ashton got the all-clear on his transfer deal, late last week and is currently away on warm weather training with Wolves, preparing physically and mentally for the season ahead. Notably, Ashton is related to Christian Malcolm, the former Olympic sprinter and Welsh athletics coach, suggesting that speed and competitive spirit run in the family. A source close to the family said: 'They are all really delighted with the signing and couldn't be any more proud of him.'
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Wolves close to agreeing deal for Almeria right-back Marc Pubill
Wolverhampton Wanderers are close to agreeing a deal to sign right-back Marc Pubill from Spanish second tier club Almeria. The fee for the 22-year old is expected to be in the region of €15million (£13m) plus add-ons. Vitor Pereira's side have been looking to strengthen the right-back position after Nelson Semedo's contract expired at the end of June. Semedo was offered a four-year contract by Wolves towards the end of last season and his departure has not yet been officially announced. Barcelona explored a deal to sign Pubill last summer, after a proposed move to Serie A side Atalanta collapsed. The 22-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions for Almeria last season, scoring once and providing five assists. If the move goes through, Pubill will join new arrival Fer Lopez, who signed from Celta Vigo in June. Wolves are also confident of completing a deal for Fluminense winger Jhon Arias, while forward Jorgen Strand Larsen has joined the club permanently after spending last season on loan at Molineux. Advertisement Pubill has been capped up to under-21 level by Spain and started all four of the team's games at this summer's European Under-21 Championship, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by England. He was also part of the Spain squad that took home the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After spending time in the youth systems of Gimnastic de Manresa, Espanyol and Levante, Pubill made his senior debut as a 17-year-old for Levante's B side in December 2020 and debuted for the first team a year later. He signed a six-year deal with Almeria in August 2023 and has gone on to make 63 appearances for the club, recording two goals and eight assists. (Ion)
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Inside Wolves' summer plans for a Vitor Pereira-led transformation
Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on a £28 million double deal for Jhon Arias and Marc Pubill as Vitor Pereira ramps up preparations for his second season at Molineux. Pereira's transformation of Wolves over the second half of last season was a stirring story that rather went under the radar outside of the city, with the mantra of ' first the points, then the pints.' He is determined to end the club's recent tangles with relegation and Arias, the Colombia international, will be the second new signing of the summer. The attacker joins £19 million capture Fer López in Pereira's reshaping of the squad with Pubill, the Almería right-back, lined up as the preferred replacement for Nelson Semedo, who has left the club. Wolves have made a bid for Pubill and are hopeful of completing a transfer later this week. Wolves' other priorities are a left-sided wing-back, a forward and another central midfielder to compete with the excellent André and João Gomes. Pereira has boosted his coaching team with the arrivals of Bruno Moura and Filipe Almeida. Talks over an improved contract are likely to start next month but, for now, he knows more signings are required. In what has proved a recurring theme over the past few years, Wolves' start to the summer was dominated by sales. Matheus Cunha departed after his £62.5 million release clause was triggered by Manchester United, while Rayan Aït-Nouri joined Manchester City for a total fee of around £35 million, which drew more criticism of owners Fosun. Aït-Nouri's £35m sale unpopular Cunha's sale was not the hammer blow many outsiders would have perceived. Voted Wolves' players' player of the season, he is undoubtedly a star, but it is a misconception that the club were hugely worried about him moving on. Every manager, including Pereira, criticised his lack of defensive running. There was an alarming statistic that he walked more than any player in the Premier League last season. When he was punished with a four-game suspension towards the end of the campaign, Wolves won three and drew one of those matches without him in the team. The sale of Aït-Nouri, however, did not go down well with many fans, primarily for the price. The Algeria international had a year left on his contract, with Wolves holding an option to extend it for a further 12 months, but the fee was lower than the £40 million paid by Liverpool to Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez. It is understood that Wolves did hold initial talks with Aït-Nouri over a new deal, with Pereira reluctant to lose another guaranteed starter. However, Aït-Nouri made it clear that, while he was happy to stay, he would not sign a new contract, and Wolves had no intention of allowing him to run his deal down. A more dynamic way of playing Semedo, last season's captain, has also left the club after his contract ended, but Wolves do not intend to allow any more high-profile exits. André and Gomes, their key midfield pivots, are regarded as fundamental to Pereira's game model and not for sale. Peripheral players will move on throughout the window but the focus will now be on incomings. Pereira wants his team to be stronger and more dynamic in attack and to find new ways to unlock teams. Arias and López are clearly very different No 10s who Pereira feels will make a difference. Off the field, there have been significant changes. Fosun have restructured their football operations, with sporting director Matt Hobbs replaced by Domenico Teti as the rebranded director of professional football. Teti was with the squad at last week's training camp in Portugal and already has an excellent existing relationship with Pereira from their time at Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab. It is understood that Teti has made a positive impression on players and staff, increasing the levels of internal communication and collaboration. He is the conduit between all areas of recruitment, leading on negotiations and working on a number of targets. Fosun, the Chinese conglomerate who have owned Wolves since 2016, recognise they made too many mistakes last season. They retained head coach Gary O'Neil for too long, eventually sacking him in December after just three wins in 26 league matches. The club hierarchy also know the squad was not balanced enough after the summer transfer window. The absence of another centre-half was an error of judgment even before Yerson Mosquera's season-ending injury in late September. Wolves' financial position remains stable, and they will post a profit for last season. The aim remains to be self-sustainable and while there is no expectation that Fosun will suddenly increase the level of investment, funds will be made available for chosen targets. There is an acceptance that Wolves' most shrewd signings over the past two or three years have been at 'mid-range' fees. Signings such as Gomes (£12 million), André (£18.8 million), Jorgen Strand Larsen (£25.6 million) and Emmanuel Agbadou (£15 million) perfectly encapsulate the club's business model. Arias, 27, is a player who Pereira has admired for some time from his time in Brazil. The deal took a little longer than expected because of the Club World Cup and Fluminense delaying talks amid a backlash from their own fans. Esta maravilla de Jhon Arias. 🎯😎 #FIFACWC — Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 18, 2025 Lopez, 21, was initially tracked through Celta Vigo's B-team by Wolves' regional co-ordinator in Spain. Senior representatives attended his La Liga debut in December and then watched most of his games over the second half of last season. Pereira and Wolves want motivated players who do not view the club as a quick stepping stone. Perhaps that has been an issue in the past. Fosun also want to implement a more balanced wage structure, feeling it has become bloated over the last few seasons. Cunha, Semedo and Pablo Sarabia all earned in excess of £110,000 a week last season. Past players including João Moutinho, Raúl Jiménez and Diego Costa have also been paid over £100,000 a week. While a lucrative offer was made to Semedo in an attempt to make him stay, Wolves ideally want to move away from that level of salary. For now, Wolves need to build on the feel-good factor generated by Pereira and give him the tools for the season. With promoted teams spending millions on new players, including Sunderland with an outlay of over £100 million so far, Wolves cannot afford to stand still or become complacent.
