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Wolves sporting director admits the club are behind in their preparations

New Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Walter Zenga (REUTERS)
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Wolves haven’t exactly made the start expected of a side hoping to push for promotion this season, with the club’s takeover proving “chaotic.”

New Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Walter Zenga

Wolves sporting director Kevin Thelwell has lamented the club’s lack of preparation for the 2016-17 season due to the club’s protracted takeover by Fosun International in an interview available on the club’s official Soundcloud page.

The Chinese consortium completed their £30 million purchase of the Midlands club in late July, according to the Express and Star, and immediately made clear their ambition to re-establish Wolves among the English elite.

Consequently, the club endured huge adjustments both on and off the pitch over the summer, with former Italy international goalkeeper Walter Zenga replacing long-serving manager Kenny Jackett (below) in the dugout.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett

Wolves also broke their transfer record for Portuguese attacker Ivan Cavaleiro but missed out on £20 million-rated Brazilian forward Talisca (below), according to the Sun.

Thelwell praised the new scouting system put in place by the Fosun group, admitting it has given them access to players that would otherwise have been unattainable, but says the multitude of changes have been difficult to manage as the club aimed to prepare for the new season.

“It’s obviously a very exciting time at the moment,” said Wolves’ sporting director in an interview available on the club’s official Soundcloud page. “While it’s been a little bit chaotic, I think we all welcome that because that means we are busy evolving into what we hope will be a club and a team who are hopefully going to challenge.

Benfica forward Anderson Talisca

“We would have loved the takeover to happen much earlier, it would have given us a much better opportunity to sign players.

“It would have made it less stressful and would have allowed us to get ourselves organised for the season. This gives Walter a more difficult job because he’s got to gel together a group of players. I think we’re slightly behind others in terms of our preparation.”

Wolves will have to make huge improvements if they are to return to the Premier League in the first year of the Fosun reign, currently lying 16th with just two wins from their first seven games.

And Zenga (below) admitted he was furious with his side after they “gave up” in Tuesday’s 4-0 home defeat to Barnsley, according to the BBC.

Walter Zenga