No rush for Fosun's decision on Wolves managerial plans

The club has been in a state of flux for the past week with head coach Paul Lambert’s fate understood to have been already decided.

It’s believed that the Chinese owners want Lambert’s successor lined up before they make any announcement and have sounded out candidates both at home and overseas. But sources suggest their plans may not be revealed any time soon.

Fosun are undertaking a comprehensive review and evaluation of the 2016/17 season – their first at Wolves – and analysing the direction they want the club to take this summer.

However, it’s thought that discussions with potential transfer targets are also ongoing despite the uncertainty surrounding the head coach position.

Recent reports linking them with moves for Blackburn and Ipswich goalkeepers Jason Steele and Bartosz Bialkowski, though, are said to be wide of the mark.

Fosun’s Wolves supremo Jeff Shi publicly praised Lambert last month, giving him his unequivocal backing, praising his leadership qualities and stating he hoped Lambert would be in charge for a long time. It looks as though Fosun are now set to go in another direction and appoint what would be Wolves’ fourth head coach in just 10 months after Lambert, Walter Zenga and Kenny Jackett.

Former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is thought to be on Fosun’s radar.

Karanka, a client of agent Jorge Mendes, won promotion to the Premier League with Boro in 2016 but was sacked in March with the club in the Premier League relegation zone. The Spaniard spent three-and-a-half years at the Riverside after previously being assistant to Jose Mourinho – another Mendes client – at Real Madrid.

Lambert was told his position was under threat ahead of Wolves' final game of the season at home to Preston.

Sources suggest he and Fosun have clashed over who has authority on transfers this summer. It's expected Wolves will lean heavily on Mendes for new signings, as they did last year, but while Lambert is willing to work in conjunction with the Portuguese agent he isn't prepared to be given players he hasn't agreed to sign.

The current limbo at Molineux means the club’s first-team retained list – and whether moves for loanees Andreas Weimann and Richard Stearman will go ahead – is on hold.