Wolves to make January ‘gamble’ in desperate bid to avoid relegation
Wolves and West Ham are likely to take risks this January to avoid being drawn further into the Premier League’s relegation battle.
That is the verdict of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the threat of relegation was much more real this season for the likes of the Hammers and the Old Gold.
Wolves are handing Vitor Pereira a new contract, despite the club being without a Premier League point through their first four games of the season.
The Portuguese boss has earned the respect of the Midlands sides’ hierarchy, and there is the belief that he is still the man who can guide them to success.
But what the definition of success this season has been adapted by the fact that Wolves endured a difficult summer as Matheus Cunha joined Man United, whilst Rayan Ait-Nouri signed for Man City.
And with the bottom end of the Premier League more competitive than it has been in years, the club’s January plans are likely to be altered.
Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland forcing Premier League sides to invest in January
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, Plumley explained that with the promoted sides this season not looking like shoe-ins for relegation, Wolves and West Ham will have to invest in their squad in the winter, or risk their status as a Premier League side.
He said: “It can be the pressure point that makes you spend more than you want to. Clubs have been looking at the table at that time of year, and last year, the bottom three were pretty much cut adrift.
“There was half a chance that one of them might have stayed up, but you could gamble and say those clubs were gonna go down, and they did.
“If it gets really tight in and around it, and if Sunderland, Leeds, Burnley are still in the mix, and you’ve got other clubs getting dragged in, then that’s gonna be a pressure point for sure.
“We will see clubs start to spend more in January, because they’re looking for maybe that striker that can get them some goals to get them out of trouble, and then you’re into spending more money than you perhaps wanted to because of the league position.
“It absolutely has an impact.”
Wolves’ next five fixtures as favourable as can be
Wolves’ next five fixtures in the Premier League will see them take on Leeds, Tottenham, Brighton, Sunderland, and Burnley.
The Old Gold have made a slow start, but with their new signings now having the opportunity to bed in, the chance to take on all three promoted sides is exactly what Pereira‘s side needs.
Tottenham and Brighton, whilst staples of the top half, have shown flaws this season, and whilst it is unlikely they win all of their next five, their run-in is favourable and should be a good springboard to finding their form.