It has been a largely disappointing season for Wolves fans, things have improved at Molineux in recent weeks but boss Paul Lambert has plenty of work to do in the summer.
Paul Lambert’s side have eased relegation fears in recent weeks
Wolves are currently in the bottom half of the Championship but look set to avoid being involved in the end of season relegation scrap after four consecutive victories. Despite their recent run of good form, everyone associated with the club will be keen to put this arduous season behind them.
The board of directors will be likely to invest heavily in the squad again in the summer and will be hoping for a promotion push next campaign. We take a look at five ways Wolves can improve their fortunes and make their mark on the Championship next season.
Get Dominic Iorfa back in the side
Iorfa burst into the Wolves first team at 19-years-old during the 2014/15 campaign and was an ever present in the right back berth at Molineux. Now aged 21, his promising career has come to an abrupt halt.
After suffering his fair share of injury problems, Iorfa has failed to regain any sort of form since the arrival of Lambert and has had to settle for second choice right back behind Conor Coady, whose position is normally in centre midfield.
Coady’s has put in impressive performances in his unfavoured position, this can be seen as positive but it would be more beneficial to Wolves if Iorfa can force his way back into the side and Coady shifts over his form to the centre of midfield. The talent is there but Iorfa has lacked consistency in recent times, Lambert should focus on this area.
Wolves’ Dominic Iorfa in action with Newcastle United’s Daryl Murphy
Sign another experienced Championship centre half
In the centre of defence, Wolves have captain Danny Batth and the ever improving Kortney Hause holding down starting places.
Batth has racked up close to 190 appearances in a Wolves shirt and has plenty of Championship games under his belt. Hause is 21-years-old and has become a favourite under Paul Lambert.
Another signing in this position would not do Wolves’ promotion chances any harm. With Mike Williamson unable to force his way into the side and Richard Stearman likely to return to Fulham at the end of the season, signing another experienced Championship centre half should be a high priority.
Add more bite in central midfield
Lambert prefers to have two midfielders in front of the back four in a 4-2-3-1 formation. in David Edwards they have one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league. He has 10 goals to his name this season and his energy in midfield has been an asset.
Wolves should target a more deep lying central midfielder who likes to break up the play and put in tackles, this will allow Edwards to carry on scoring goals from midfield. Lee Evans is an option they currently have, but has not shown enough to be considered as the long term solution.
Cash in on Helder Costa
Helder Costa is Wolves’ top goalscorer with 12 goals scored from the right wing this season and has also weighed in with 11 assists. So how is selling your prized asset considered a solution for immediate success?
Costa was signed from Benfica in the summer, for a fee thought to be worth a club record fee of £13 million (BBC). It is clear that his future lies away from the Championship and there is said to be interest from clubs across Europe, including Chelsea and Arsenal.
In today’s current transfer market, Wolves will be able to not only recoup their £13 million back but also make a tidy profit on the 23-year-old. If they were to get in the region of £20 million for the winger then those funds can be reinvested into the squad.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Helder Costa
Splash out on a 20+ goals a season centre forward
A new centre forward will be high on Lambert’s wish list. Their highest scoring striker is Joe Mason with just three league goals to his name.
On-loan Derby striker Andreas Weimann has deputised in the centre-forward role since arriving on loan in January. He has impressed so much that Wolves are more than likely to sign the Austrian in the summer (ExpressAndStar). Despite this, it remains to be seen whether Weimann can be the man to score over 20 goals in a season.
Wolves have missed this sort of goal scoring influence since Benik Afobe left the club. Nouha Dicko is back from injury but he looks a shadow of the player that formed a formidable front three of Afobe and Bakary Sako. If Wolves are going to invest heavily in the squad this summer then this position should be a priority.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Andreas Weimann celebrates scoring at Anfield
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