Wolves are embarking on a significant squad clearout, with Football Insider reporting, that manager Vitor Pereira is set to offload five first-team players—Boubacar Traore, Tommy Doyle, Hwang Hee-Chan, Sam Johnstone, and Craig Dawson—to streamline the squad and address PSR constraints. Following the high-profile exits of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United for £62.5 million and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City for £31 million, Wolves have welcomed Celta Vigo attacking midfielder Fer Lopez as their first major signing. Under Pereira, who replaced Gary O’Neil in December 2024 and steered the club from 19th to 16th in the Premier League, this ruthless transfer strategy aims to fund new signings and align the squad with his tactical vision for the 2025-26 season.
Wolves’ transfer activity is driven by the need to comply with PSR, as Collomosse explained: “In the age of PSR, clubs will always be open to doing deals for those players not considered vital by the coach” (Football Insider). The £93.5 million from Cunha and Ait-Nouri’s sales has eased financial pressures, but Pereira’s desire for “quality players” requires further funds, per Express & Star. The potential £38-65 million from Traore, Doyle, Johnstone, and Hwang, plus Dawson’s wage savings (£45,000/week), could fund targets like Nice’s Evann Guessand (£25m) and Rennes’ Christopher Wooh (£4.2m), per Molineux News. Wolves’ signing of Fer Lopez for £15-20 million from Celta Vigo signals ambition, but the club is cautious after criticism over Ait-Nouri’s “cheap” £31 million sale.
An X post from @SebEcrivainFooton June 21, 2025, confirmed Wolves’ openness to offers for Traore, Doyle, and Hwang, stating, “Vitor Pereira is planning a major summer clear-out at Molineux”. @GoldenPalaceWW’s speculative squad list on June 25, 2025, included further potential exits like Pablo Sarabia and Goncalo Guedes, alongside incomings like Joao Felix and Yuri Alberto, though these remain unverified.
The scale of Wolves’ clearout risks squad instability, especially with only 18 senior players remaining after confirmed exits. Pereira’s preference for a lean squad could backfire if injuries hit, as seen with Hwang’s 12 missed games in 2024-25. Traore and Doyle’s modest valuations make sales feasible, but Johnstone’s limited game time may lower his fee, and Dawson’s free agency limits financial gain. Competition for targets like Guessand, also linked with Arsenal, and Walker-Peters, pursued by Tottenham, adds complexity. Sports Mole notes that Wolves’ rejection of a high salary demand by Nelson Semedo, who is also out of contract, reflects their PSR-driven caution.
The clearout could generate £38-65 million, enabling Pereira to target high-caliber players like Guessand or Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss, also wanted by Bayer Leverkusen. However, losing five first-team players, including versatile stars like Hwang, risks weakening Wolves’ attack, especially after Cunha’s departure. The signings of Lopez and potential additions like Wooh signal ambition, but Pereira must ensure replacements match the outgoing quality to avoid a relegation scrap, with tough opening fixtures against Chelsea and Newcastle. For the players, moves to clubs like Marseille (Hwang) or Everton (Doyle) offer fresh starts, while Dawson’s experience will attract suitors.
Wolves are undergoing a transformative squad overhaul, with Football Insider reporting plans to sell Boubacar Traore, Tommy Doyle, Hwang Hee-Chan, Sam Johnstone, and Craig Dawson. With £93.5 million already banked from Cunha and Ait-Nouri’s sales, and Fer Lopez signed, Vitor Pereira is reshaping Wolves for the 2025-26 season. However, the scale of the clearout, driven by PSR, raises risks, and fans demand marquee signings to maintain competitiveness. As the transfer window, open until September 1, 2025, progresses, Wolves must balance sales with quality acquisitions to ensure a strong Premier League campaign.
