Wolves return to pre-season on Monday as they begin their preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
After a stellar end to last season, Vitor Pereira will be looking for a quick start to avoid the fate that befell Gary O’Neil.
His job is made more difficult by the departures of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri, two of the club’s most important players throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
The Portuguese manager will also be without eight other first-team stars, at least for the short term, as they have been given an extended break following their exploits on international duty.
Jorgen Strand Larsen celebrates after scoring for Wolves against Crystal Palace.
Photo by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/Wolves via Getty Images
Eight Wolves players to miss the start of pre-season, including Jorgen Strand Larsen and Jose Sa
As reported by the Express and Star, of the eight to be given this extended break, six will join the rest of the Wolves first-team in Portugal during the club’s first warm-weather break.
These players are as follows:
Each of those players was called up by their respective countries for the June international break, hence why they have been given extra time off.
Hugo Bueno and Rodrigo Gomes will miss the first warm-weather training camp entirely, however.
Both players featured for Spain and Portugal, respectively, at the European U21 Championships in Slovakia, helping their countries reach the quarter-finals.
MORE WOLVES STORIES
The extended break could be particularly good for Bueno after Wolves transfer target Harvey Elliott gave the left-back the runaround as England knocked Spain out of the tournament.
What are Wolves’ pre-season plans?
As mentioned, Wolves will incorporate two warm-weather training camps into their 2025/26 pre-season plans, with the first of these in Portugal and the second in Spain.
The Express and Star add that two behind-closed-doors friendlies will be played while out in Portugal.
The club’s first public pre-season friendly will take place back in the UK, as Wolves travel to Championship side Stoke on 26th July.
Pereira’s side will then fly out to Spain for the second training camp, playing La Liga side Girona at the Estadi Montilvi stadium on 3rd August.
Finally, Fer Lopez will be given the chance for a quick reunion with his old teammates as the Old Gold welcome Celta Vigo to Molineux on 9th August.
As stated by Wolves’ official website, one final public pre-season game will be added to the club’s schedule ahead of the opening Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 16th August.