Wolves want £15,000-a-week promotion-winner to be their first Championship signing

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Dan Neil, with the Sunderland midfielder set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

Wolves planning to build Championship squad around nine key players

Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League has been confirmed with five games to go, which suggests there may need to be a major restructuring of the squad in the summer, should they have any ambition of returning to the top flight at the first attempt.

It has now emerged the Old Gold are planning to build a Championship promotion-winning side around nine players, given that Andre and Joao Gomes are ‘practically certain’ to leave, amid interest from Premier League rivals Leeds United.

As shown, Rob Edwards could well have plenty of defensive options at his disposal, but the manager may be left a little sparse in midfield, given the doubts surrounding Andre and Joao Gomes’ future at Molineux.

Consequently, Wolves have now set out to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, and they are seriously interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Neil, who is currently on loan at promotion-chasing Ipswich Town.

The £15k-a-week central midfielder won two promotions during his time with the Black Cats, but struggled to force his way into Regis Le Bris’ plans in the Premier League, and he is now to be available on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer.

The need to bring in reinforcements in midfield is likely to be exacerbated by Angel Gomes returning to Marseille after his loan deal comes to an end, and the Ipswich loanee could be a solid signing.

Neil has been lauded as “phenomenal” by Doncaster Rovers player Luke Molyneux, and made 44 Championship appearances in the regular season, before starting all three play-off games, en-route to Sunderland winning promotion in the 2024-25 campaign.

Odds in Wolves’ favour as they target Premier League return

Of course, Wolves losing their Premier League status after eight seasons is very disappointing, but there is every indication they could return to the top flight for the 2027/28 campaign.

Up to the 2023/24 season, 15 of the 30 relegated teams in the prior ten seasons won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and the Old Gold have a manager who knows how to get results in the second tier.

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Wolves keen on signing former Inter Milan midfielder who’s open to moving

The Old Gold are in the race for a “superb” player.

The former Luton Town boss led the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League in his first season in charge, before going on to leave Middlesbrough when they were sitting second in the table.

Should they get their recruitment right too, there is no reason Wolves can’t make a swift return to the top tier.