Wolverhampton Wanderers

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder and Planet Premier League pundit Cesc Fabregas believes the transfer window should close before the season begins.

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Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sam Johnstone will be available to play on Saturday after his move from Crystal Palace was competed in time. O'Neil also expects goalkeeper Jose Sa to "stay and fight" rather than seek a move away.

• O'Neil says a deal with Fluminese for midfielder Andre is "close".

• Offering more on the deal for Andre, O'Neil said: "I think everything has gone fine but there's a few boxes to tick but I don't see any problems occurring. The midfield is a very strong area of the pitch for us already with Joao [Gomes], Mario [Lemina] and Tommy [Doyle]. Andre is an excellent talent that will add to the group, and it will fall on me to find a structure to fit them all in."

• He believes Daniel Podence is leaving the club: "We worked very hard with him, there were some periods he wasn’t happy and went away on loan. He came back and worked his socks off but he has had an excellent offer for him and his family. Discussions have been on going and what is best for him and the club. That one is looking like there may be something completed."

• Boubacar Traore will be out for a "few months" with a knee injury, with O'Neil stating: "He is a great guy and he will be missed. Hopefully it’s the best it can be but he’s not available for the weekend and he’ll be out for a little while."

• On the away trip to the City Ground: "It’s always felt quite feisty. I would expect it to feel like a big game. For us off the back of two losses in the league and Nottingham Forest wanting to get their first home win, it’s feeling like a big game."

• On Nottingham Forest: "Very compact, don’t come out of shape to press. There are loads of threats on counter-attacks, we need to make sure we don’t lose it in bad areas and make sure the structure is better than at home to Chelsea. Then we need to be ready to stand up and be counted. As always with Premier League games every facet will be tested. I have faith and belief in the lads."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the action from transfer deadline day

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Podence is close to a £5m move from Wolves to Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab.

The forward, who spent last season on loan at Olympiakos, is poised to leave Molineux with Wolves also including add-ons and a sell-on clause in the deal.

Podence made 108 appearances, scoring 16 goals, for Wolves after joining from Olympiakos in 2020.

Boss Gary O'Neil said: "Daniel is getting close to leaving. We worked very hard with him, there were some good periods and some periods he wasn't happy and went away on loan.

"He came back and worked his socks off but he has had an excellent offer for him and his family. Discussions have been ongoing on what is best for him and the club.

"That one is looking like there may be something completed."

Striker Fabio Silva is also due to join Las Palmas on a season-long loan deal.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves remain in the market for a centre-back but it will not be West Ham's Nayef Aguerd.

There was interest from Molineux in the defender, who cost the Hammers £28m from Rennes two years ago, but he rejected them earlier in the week.

It did at least allow Wolves to move on long before deadline day and Aston Villa's Diego Carlos has been one under consideration but he is expected to stay at Villa Park, with the club having rejected an offer from Fulham earlier this month.

Wolves, though, are content with their defensive options if they are unable to bring in a centre-back to follow Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, and are poised to seal a move for Fluminense's Brazil midfielder Andre.

We asked for your views on the signing of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who has joined Wolves from Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Stuart: Given reports the Jose Sa may be on the move, it is a good decision so let's see.

Bob: We failed miserably in our negotiations for Ramsdale so now we need to ‘big up’ this tremendous transfer coup.

Dan: You get what you pay for, makes no sense to me unless Sa is being sold on.

Steve: Another on the cheap buy, relegation here we come.

Tom: Four-year contract for a 31-year-old who left West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer and can't get in the Palace first team. No thanks.

Darren: We need quality Premier League players to compete and stay up. Not cheap rejects.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves' sporting director Matt Hobbs says Sam Johnstone will add "real competition" in the club's goalkeeping department.

Johnstone, who has made over 350 senior appearances in his career, is a fourth goalkeeper on Wolves' books.

“It's great for us to have a player with a huge amount of Premier League experience and an international goalkeeper," Hobbs said.

"For us, it's finding the right balance between the level of investment, what it adds to the squad and what it enables us to do for the rest of the squad.

“Sam’s at a good age - goalkeepers come into their prime a bit later - and what happens from here will be up to the boys in the building, but for us to be able to add someone like him is valuable.

“A squad and a team is in a much better place when there's real competition for every place. If we can add such an experienced player, who is homegrown and knows the league, and it makes the whole group more competitive, then we wouldn't turn that down in any other position, so why do we turn that down with a goalkeeper?”

What do you make of this signing, Wolves fans? Do you see him as a back-up to Jose Sa, or will he be Gary O'Neil's first choice?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have signed goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace.

The England international has signed a four-year deal at Molineux.

The shotstopper made 34 appearances for Palace after signing from West Brom in 2022.

Follow all the ins and outs on deadline day on our live page

We asked what you have made of Wolves' transfer window so far, and what needs to be done on deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Dairve: I have a feeling that selling our experienced players and replacing them with green teenagers is perhaps going to end in a return to the Championship. I don't think one needs to be a soothsayer to see this coming?

John: Crazy choice to spend £10m on a goalkeeper unless Sa is leaving, especially when could have got a half-decent centre-back proposition for an extra £2m. Too little too late and will overpay for what we get.

Rhys: As Wolves' biggest problems are in defence - specifically at left-back and centre-back, I would suggest getting two of the Chelsea 'Bomb Squad' in on loan. Chilwell and Chalobah would seem ideal.

Wolfman: This summer's transfer window appears to have had a scattergun approach, best players leaving, no adequate replacements, Larsen appears the best signing but another central striker is needed. And, how many wingers do Wolves think they need?

Here's all you need to know about transfer deadline day on Friday...

When does the window close?

The transfer window will close at 23:00 BST on Friday, 30 August for the Premier League, English Football League and Scotland.

The date was brought forward by the domestic leagues to align with European leagues.

Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00, La Liga at 22:59 and Serie A at 23:00, but the Saudi Pro League transfer window remains open until 7 September.

Can a Premier League player signed on deadline day play this weekend?

Under league rules, new signings are eligible for the next Premier League game if the club submit the required documents by midday on the last working day before that match.

So any player signed after 12:00 on deadline day would be unable to play in this round of Premier League fixtures.

Where can I see all the confirmed transfer deals on deadline day?

You can find all the deals completed on transfer deadline day within our dedicated confirmed transfers page.

When does the January transfer window open?

Clubs will be able to make transfers again from Wednesday, 1 January until Monday, 3 February at 23:00 GMT. This is the same in Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

How can I follow transfer deadline day on the BBC?

We have this live page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction and analysis.

You will also find regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport's social media channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

There will also be a special edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button from 22:00 until 23:15.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have completed the signing of teenage defender Bastien Meupiyou from Nantes.

The 18-year-old has joined on a five-year deal, which includes an additional year option.

Meupiyou, who has represented France at three different age groups, came through the ranks of the Ligue 1 side.

He made his senior debut against Marseille in Spetember 2023, but was sent off in the ninth minute, making him the second youngest player in the league's history to receive a red card.

Injury then ruled Meupiyou out for the remainder of the season, but during this pre-season he featured regularly, including against Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Sporting director Matthew Hobbs said: "Bastien's got a huge amount of potential.

"Obviously, he had some time out last season with a knee injury, so we'll take our time with him, but he has an incredibly high ceiling and we're excited to help develop him.

"He's very physical, very strong, very quick. But also, he's played lot at six, a lot at left back as well.

"It’s not often you can find a big, physical profile that comes with the ability to play on the ball and to play in all those positions.

"He fits what we think a Premier League player looks like. There's no pressure on him, he's a young boy, and we'll look forward to seeing how he develops the next couple of years."

The transfer deadline is almost upon us, so tell us what you've made of your club's business and if more is needed?

Send your thoughts here, external

Matt Cooper
Fan writer

Find more from Matthew Cooper at Talking Wolves, external

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 11 league games against Wolves (D5 L5), beating them 2-0 at Molineux in January 2018. Each of the last three league meetings between the sides has ended in a draw.

Wolves' Portugal winger Daniel Podence, 28, is close to joining Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. (Rudy Galetti), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil on the Carabao Cup win over Burnley: "I am pleased. I thought we looked good and we did really well. It was an opportunity for some players to get minutes because they have worked hard during training and in pre-season.

"I was confident that we would see a good team performance and they did not let us down. It was good to see where a few of them are though because there are some big decisions coming up in terms of transfers and team selections."

On the links to Fluminense midfielder Andre: "I’ve been busy, asked Matt Hobbs to get on with his stuff. Having the transfer window around matches is tough because it is very easy to get your attention taken to things you can’t impact.

"It’s been a tricky window. We had planned to replace Pedro Neto and Max Kilman and we had some targets that we thought could help with that. Some of them have not been do-able for us due to financial reasons but we are close to something.

"I am hoping we can get some help. I think it will be busy everywhere and we will remain active until the very last minute. What I was planning on having hasn't quite happened so it is a big couple of days for us."

Image source, Getty Images

The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup third round, with 17 Premier League clubs having made it through or entering at this stage.

There are three all-Premier League fixtures, including holders Liverpool hosting West Ham in a repeat of last season's quarter-final.

Ties will be played in the weeks commencing 16 September and 23 September.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below:

• AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle United

• Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers

• Brentford v Leyton Orient

• Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Chelsea v Barrow

• Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur

• Everton v Southampton

• Liverpool v West Ham United

• Manchester City v Watford

• Manchester United v Barnsley

• Preston North End v Fulham

• Queens Park Rangers v Crystal Palace

• Walsall v Leicester City

• Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa

See the full draw

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It is safe to say not many people this summer would have expected Goncalo Guedes to be scoring twice for Wolves in a Carabao Cup game.

His opener against Burnley, a close-range back-post finish from Pedro Lima's cross, was his first goal for Wolves in 599 days.

He would only have to wait 16 minutes (plus the half-time break) for his second goal - a lovely dinked effort from Daniel Podence's through ball.

His future at the club looked over when he joined Benfica on loan in January 2023 with then boss Julen Lopetegui saying he did not want to be at the club.

Another loan spell at Benfica, and then one at Villarreal, followed and it seemed as if his return to Molineux this summer would just be a temporary one while he found a new home.

He didn't go on their pre-season tour of Spain - as expected - but then in a surprise twist he did travel to the USA and became a part of the Wolves squad again.

And now after his double against Burnley - and with just two days left of the transfer window - the odds are that he will stay.

The standing ovation he left to after 75 minutes suggests Wolves fans may well be OK with that.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of your team's performance, Wolves fans?

Let us know here, external

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies.

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are eight Premier League teams in action on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

Follow live

And listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Newcastle on BBC Sounds

As transfer deadline day looms, what do Wolverhampton Wanderers need to do before it's too late? Or are you happy with where things are up to?

Tell us here, external