This will be an interesting summer full of plenty of dilemmas for Nuno Santo.
On the one hand, he needs to make this Wolves squad bigger but on the other, they need to invest more smartly than they have done in recent years.
On the chalkboard
Much of Wolves’ business in the upcoming transfer window could be dictated by those already on the scene at Molineux.
Nuno has decisions to make over the likes of Willian Jose, Vitinha and Rayan Ait-Nouri. They are all currently on loan but there are options to lure them to Molineux on a permanent basis.
It feels like Jose will pack his bags and never return but the Portuguese duo are more interesting cases.
Judging by his recent performances, Wolves would be foolish not to welcome Ait-Nouri back.
The young Frenchman has played plenty of football with Marcal and Jonny on the sidelines and has made a big impression. One of his best performances in an Old Gold shirt came against Brighton last weekend.
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He was a rampant source of energy and creativity down the left-hand side, providing the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s winning goal.
Ait-Nouri completed three dibbles and produced three key passes for his teammates. It was a complete performance that will have Nuno surely thinking of a permanent switch.
What about Vinagre?
Wolves currently have a plethora of left-backs on their books and if Wolves have been left impressed by their teenage loanee, they can wave goodbye to Ruben Vinagre.
The young wing-back has caught the eye on the odd occasion at Wolves without ever truly lifting off. His game time in recent seasons has been hampered by Jonny’s immense consistency and thus, Vinagre has still only ever started 14 Premier League outings.
Having been shipped out on loan this term, it was clear Nuno wasn’t overly impressed with his abilities.
Speaking about his move to Olympiacos last year, journalist Tim Spiers said: “I’d first heard six weeks ago, maybe not that long, that Vinagre was sort of on the ‘endangered species’ list and then I think Marcal’s injury put that on the back-burner.
“If he was going to be out for a few weeks, that might have changed things, but Vinagre came in and was uninspiring and West Ham was probably the final straw, really.”
With Ait-Nouri coming in too, it feels like there could be no way back for the 22-year-old.
He is currently on loan at Famalicao in Portugal but given his age, he should really be making a bigger impression now.
As a teenager, he looked like he had an incredibly high ceiling. Though, that appears to be caving in as the years tick by.
Ait-Nouri, however, has been a relentless ball of energy. To sum things up, the Frenchman has already started as many top-flight games in English football as Vinagre despite being two years his junior.
It would be harsh to axe him from their plans for good but with so many players now ahead of him in the pecking order, it feels like the promising Portuguese won’t ever make it Compton.
Wolves should do their best to sell the £30k-per-week defender and invest in Ait-Nouri instead.