Wolves ‘considering offers for some of their best players’ ahead of January window
Wolves will have to consider offers for their star players in January due to their perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table.
That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley who has exclusively told Football Insider that he believes Wolves could generate greater value for players if they sell in January, rather than in the summer as a Championship club.
Wolves’ 4-1 defeat to Man United leaves the Old Gold with just two points after 15 league games this season.
Man United are chasing Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, with the club placing a £50million valuation on the 24-year-old.
Wolves set for ‘£60m reduction in revenue’
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley does not rule out the possibility of Wolves letting Gomes, or other players, leave in January.
“I think you need to work on the basis of probability here. And, look, I know that they want to stay in the Premier League, but, you know, they’ve got two points at the minute, and the gap is big already,” Plumley said.
“So if, you know, on a basis of probability, you would look at their candidates for relegation. Now we know that relegation will take £60m off the revenue line, which is the difference between a TV payment for finishing bottom of the league and a first-year parachute payment. You’re going to get a £60m reduction in revenue or thereabouts.
“And then that therefore means if you are then looking at how you might kind of offset some of that, obviously, selling players is a way to do that. Again, because we’re talking about them trying to stay up and then needing to stabilise.
“But actually, from a financial point of view, they might be looking at considering offers for some of their best players and trying to get, you know, a bit of that money now because the likelihood is you’re going to have a revenue decrease come May if relegation happens.
“So I think that’s where Wolves still have their bargaining position at this point in time. They’re not down yet, and they might still survive.
“So, yeah, it probably does tip that a little bit in their favour to drive for a higher price in January, as opposed to in the summer, as you say, where if you are definitely a championship club, you might be under the cosh a little bit more to sell for cheaper.”
No instant impact from Rob Edwards appointment
Wolves’ decision to sack Vitor Pereira and hire Rob Edwards has yet to have any effect on the club’s results and performances.
Edwards faces a mammoth task if he is to keep Wolves up, with a 13-point gap between them and 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Wolves’ fixture list does not get any easier with a trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal next, who are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season.