Shropshire Star

Work to do for Wolves but overhaul unlikely – Kevin Thelwell

There's work to do to improve Wolves' team this summer, Kevin Thelwell admits, but he doesn't anticipate an overhaul of the title-winning team.

Published
Wolves' victorious team at their open top bus parade (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Nuno Espirito Santo's Championship winners are widely considered to be one of the best second-tier teams of recent times.

Wolves are set to splash the cash to ensure they have a team to avoid a relegation battle.

But recruitment chief Thelwell said Wolves already have a number of players good enough to make their mark in the Premier League.

"It’s a difficult question to answer," Thelwell told the Express & Star when asked about an overhaul.

"We definitely think we’ve got Premier League players in the team. Even last season there were Premier League teams who’d have taken our players.

"It’s just making sure we’re in the position where we have enough quality and strength in depth so that we’re capable of achieving something.

"There’s still a little bit of work to do, we think.

"Then also it’s not just about building and developing the first team, it’s about the whole club and looking through the age groups and saying are we strong enough in terms of support players and the succession plan, i.e. the ones we think are going to be next."

The likes of Ruben Neves and imminent signing Willy Boly are certainly expected to make the step up, but the majority of Wolves' squad hasn't featured in the top flight before.

Thelwell said a number of them 'deserve a shot' at proving themselves.

"We all want not to just play in the Premier League, but succeed in the Premier League.

"That means you’ve got to find players who are going to make the team better – that’s not an easy task.

"We’ve got a really good group of young players who all did so well last year and deserve a shot at playing in the Premier League and proving that they’re capable."

"I don’t think we’re looking at an overhaul. I’d never say never, we’re certainly going to look to strengthen there’s no doubt about that.

"I wouldn’t want to be drawn on where we’re going to strengthen (but) you’ll see new players coming into the team, for sure."