Wolves players ‘unsure Lopetegui will be in charge for season opener’ after club have talks with ex-Premier League boss
WOLVES players are reportedly unsure that Julen Lopetegui will still be manager for the start of the Premier League.
Lopetegui has become disgruntled due to the club’s lack of transfer business this summer with former player Matt Doherty and goalkeeper Tom King the only arrivals.
GettyJulen Lopetegui is not happy with Wolves’ transfer business this summer[/caption]
Jeff Shi has made sales to comply with FFPGetty – Contributor
GettyWolves are thought to have held talks with Gary O’Neil as a replacement[/caption]
To make matters worse Wolves have allowed Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, and Nathan Collins to make their way through the exit door.
This led Lopetegui, 56, to claim that the business has been a “big disappointment” to himself and sporting director Matt Hobbs.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi, 46, has since explained the reasons for the sales as part of the club’s need to meet Financial Fair Play requirements.
Now, due to the growing tension between the manager and board, stars are not confident that Lopetegui will still be in charge for the season-opening trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on August 14, according to the Daily Mail.
The West Midlands side are thought to have already spoken to former Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil, 40, about replacing the former Real Madrid manager.
O’Neil enjoyed a good start to life in management as he guided the Cherries to Premier League safety once he replaced Scott Parker early on in the season.
However, despite his success, he left the club in June with the Spanish coach Andoni Iraola coming in to take his job.
The Mirror has claimed that Wolves held three-hour talks with O’Neil about joining the club should Lopetegui quit.
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Wolves have earned £91million from sales this summer, including the £47m sale of captain Neves to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Shi has claimed that the club is determined to “pass” the Premier League’s test on profit and sustainability at the end of the season.
The Molineux outfit did spend in January in order to escape relegation with deals worth £77m agreed which saw the likes of Matheus Cunha and Mario Lemina arrive.
Lopetegui managed to guide Wolves to survival last season despite taking over when the club was rock bottom of the league in November.
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