Wolves are now turning their heads to the summer transfer window, with one Gary O’Neil target named by reports in Portugal.
Wolves are poised for a busy summer ahead as Gary O’Neil bids to win the backing of Fosun to bolster his thin squad in the transfer window.
Despite failing to win any of their last six Premier League matches, O’Neil has done an excellent job navigating through his squad shortages and big pile-up of injuries.
The 40-year-old took over from Julen Lopetegui last summer as the Spaniard couldn’t spend big due to financial restrictions, leaving the former Bournemouth manager in a difficult position.
Having defied the odds by leading the Old Gold towards the European positions at one point, Wolves have since slipped down the table due to injuries.
Given they have nothing to play for in the league, O’Neil has made it abundantly clear he expects Fosun to support him in the 2024 transfer window and even likened his current situation to the one that saw Lopetegui walk out of Molineux.
The transfer rumour mill has begun ahead of a busy summer, with their latest target now named.
Wolves make offer for January target Bright Osayi-Samuel
Wolves were linked with Fenerbache wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel in the January transfer window.
The Wanderers and Crystal Palace shared a strong desire to bring him back to English football, having watched him rip up the Championship with Queens Park Rangers previously.
Reports in Turkey, as relayed by Sport Witness, now claim that Wolves have stepped up their interest in the 26-year-old ahead of summer, tabling an offer reportedly worth €12 million (£10 million).
It is said negotiations will continue as the Turkish giants are keen to reach an agreement with his contract expiring in 2025.
Bright Osayi-Samuel would offer Nelson Semedo competition
A powerful wing-back, Osayi-Samuel has impressed across various competitions this season, scoring three and assisting twice in 18 Turkish Super Lig matches.
Once a fleet-footed winger, who decimated the Championship alongside Eberechi Eze at QPR, Osayi-Samuel has transitioned into an excellent wing-back since arriving at Fenerbache in January 2021.
Described by former manager Mark Warburton as “outstanding”, the Nigerian would add an abundance of power, pace and dynamism to the O’Neil’s right-flank while offering competition for Nelson Semedo.
The Portuguese international has been forced into playing almost every minute this term with hardly any rest, and O’Neil confirmed after the draw against Nottingham Forest he was exhausted.
Sadly, there is no other player in the Wanderers squad who can fill his void, so the 30-year-old has been playing through the pain barrier so to speak.
It means that, while Semedo is nailed on to be O’Neil’s number one next term, adding competition in the shape of Osayi-Samuel will not only give him the option to rotate but would get the best out of the former Barcelona man.