Wolves could struggle in the 2025/26 season without sufficiently replacing their star players, as another transformative summer awaits.
With Matheus Cunha joining Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri moving to Manchester City, Vitor Pereira is under pressure to replace their incredible attacking output.
In 2024/25, Cunha and Ait-Nouri produced 32 goal involvements between them, with their departures leaving a huge void.
Wolves have since signed Spaniard Fer Lopez, and he’s someone who occupies the right-sided number 10 position, giving him license to cut inside on his dangerous left foot.
Pereira knows signing an inexperienced 21-year-old isn’t enough to replace Cunha’s magic in the final third. However, whilst capturing another attacking talent is on the agenda, Wolves could also be looking at a new goalkeeper.
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In Pereira’s progressive system, which requires the goalkeeper to be comfortable with the ball at his feet, current number one Jose Sa falls short.
Sa has been criticised for his clumsiness in possession, with rumours suggesting that Wolves could sign someone to challenge or replace the 32-year-old.
Although Wolves have been linked with Christos Mandas, among others, they should be tempted to move for Manchester City stopper Stefan Ortega.
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Ortega has been the second choice to Ederson at the Etihad Stadium, but every time he’s pulled on the jersey, he’s excelled.
The German has been likened to Manuel Neuer with his shot-stopping, while his ball-playing abilities are some of the best on the planet.
Speaking in June 2025, Pep Guardiola reaffirmed that he wanted to keep both Ederson and Ortega this summer, despite both being linked with moves away.
“We have spoken about the squad situation and the two goalkeepers that we have will continue,” Guardiola said via Manchester Evening News.
Those comments would naturally deter clubs from pursuing a deal, but with Ortega’s contract set to expire in 2026 and Wolves able to offer him the starting role he so desperately craves, perhaps they should attempt to lure the 32-year-old to Molineux.
Ortega’s former coach thinks he’s ‘world-class’
Should Wolves attempt an ambitious move for City’s second-choice keeper, they would be getting someone ‘world-class’, according to former coach Kurt Kowarz, who worked with Ortega for two seasons at 1860 Munich.
“He’s the most complete, both in defending the box and catching the ball while also using it at his feet. But Stefan is an excellent footballer,” Kowarz told Sky Sports.
“He was an outfield player when he was younger but decided at an early age that he would become a goalkeeper. With his feet, he is world-class.”
An ability to accurately distribute the ball, both short and long, is what Pereira likes in his goalkeeper, and Ortega is one of the world’s best at dictating possession from defence.