Wolves' squad battles ahead of 2025/26 Premier League campaign

Manchester City come to town on the opening day of the campaign and Vitor Pereira's Wolves side, who have failed to win in six pre-season matches, will be up against it.

The team needs additions and it should be a busy August for Wolves on that front, but which players will now be battling it out for a place in the starting XI following the final friendly against Celta Vigo?

Wolfe v Bueno

New signing David Moller Wolfe was given the nod from the start on Saturday, ahead of Hugo Bueno at left-wing-back.

The Norwegian was industrious, physical and hard-working. He did also deliver one good cross with his weak foot, but he is not the dynamic and exciting forward-thinking player that Rayan Ait-Nouri was for the club.

Fans will need to get used to the idea that Wolfe is a different kind of player, but he should also improve Wolves defensively on that side and he had a solid enough 45 minutes.

Bueno was introduced and did well going forward, proving he is the more dangerous option between the two, but then messed up defensively for a huge Celta chance that they failed to convert.

The Spaniard could also leave before the window closes, depending on interest and his chances of playing.

As it stands, he will likely be on the bench and Wolfe will be the player with the shirt.

Doherty v Mosquera

The battle on the right side of the three centre-backs is expected to be one that will rage on throughout the season.

Matt Doherty did well last season under Pereira and rightly has the shirt going into the new season.

Against Celta he made some good tackles and recoveries, but also could have done better for their goal.

Waiting in the wings is Yerson Mosquera, who will be desperate to get the shirt back.

He had it at the beginning of last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury and he has impressed Pereira, despite only playing in two friendlies so far this summer.

Doherty should start the season against City and for the foreseeable games, but it is only a matter of time before Mosquera comes calling and he has a good chance of breaking in.

Lopez v Munetsi

Wolves are trying to sign another forward and it is definitely an area that needs work, but Pereira is probably going to have to settle with his current options against City.

Jhon Arias and Fer Lopez started either side of Jorgen Strand Larsen against Celta but those two number 10 places are up for grabs this weekend.

Experienced forward Arias will probably occupy one of them, as a player with a track record of goal contributions, but the other side is likely to be a battle between Lopez and Marshall Munetsi.

Lopez has had the shirt all pre-season but is only 21-years-old and inexperienced. Starting him against Celta was also expected, as it was the side he left just months ago to come to Wolves.

Munetsi has had an underwhelming pre-season but he works hard, runs himself into the ground and causes issues by getting closer to Larsen, even if he does not carry much attacking threat.

Wolves will need to be hard to beat against City and for that reason alone, Munetsi may get the nod this weekend, keeping Lopez back for some impact from the bench, which is currently limited elsewhere in the squad.