19 Feb 2026 11:00:12
What do you guys make of the Mateus Mané links?
I'm actually pretty excited by them. He's the type of player I love to see us sign. Young, homegrown, strong, quick and exciting, clearly an intelligent player.
We talk a lot about the issues in midfield, and 100% that is where we need to focus our attention first this summer.
Yet if we include Bruno and Mount more as number 10's, that really leaves us with Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad, Sesko and Zirkzee for the two wide positions and up front. Of which Zirkzee might leave and is arguably better suited as a No.10 even if he does stay. We definitely lack som quality in depth in those wide positions.
Now Dorgu might come in and play some games as a winger, that might even be his best position. Yet we still feel slightly light up top, especially if we are going to play an extra 20-25 games next season with Europe and cup runs.
I really like what I've seen from Mané this season. He's powerful and difficult to knock off the ball, he definitely doesn't look like an 18 year old. He can play right across the front line and remains impactful wherever he plays, which suggests he's an intelligent and adaptable. The way he carries the ball and that teams need to double or even triple up on him to try and win it back also makes a lot of space for his teammates. If he was at a bigger club with better players around him then his impact would be greater.
I like the idea of Mané and Dorgu playing on the left, Mbeumo and Amad on the right, with Sesko and Cunha as the striker/false 9 giving you tactical flexibility depending on whether you want a focal point or a more free flowing attack.
That looks to have a lot of really good options, with some great young players who should only get better over time.
19 Feb 2026 14:59:32
Mount and Zirkzee need to be gone by the end of the next transfer window.
Also, we need fullbacks a long time before we reinforce the forward positions again.
19 Feb 2026 22:19:22
Zirkzee for sure needs to move on. Don't see where he fits in our team. As for Mount - time is ticking for him, for sure. Not reliable enough to persist with, as always injured. Technically a brilliant player - one that should consider a move to Italy or a similar league.
20 Feb 2026 10:50:44
Jimbo, if we got rid of both Mount and Zirkzee this summer then that would just leave Sesko, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad and Bruno in the first team squad to cover the four forwards positions (LW, RW, ST and No.10). Five players for four starting positions isn't even enough for a league campaign, let alone playing in Europe and in two domestic cups. Even if we permanently moved Dorgu forward as a winger, that still only gives us 6 players for 4 positions. Personally, I think Zirkzee will leave, as he's the guy who doesn't have a natural starting position in the team and he's someone we could get money for. I doubt Mount will leave, as his wages and his injury record mean very few clubs will be interested. Also, if he can stay fit he is actually a real asset to the squad.
That would give us 7 players for 4 spots (Bruno, Sesko, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad, Mount, and Dorgu). Common belief is that you need two players for each position to have the squad depth needed to compete in 4 competitions. This means we would still need one more forward player, especially as Mount will likely miss part of the season injured, Dorgu might be needed at LB, and Bruno's future is not certain. Someone like Mateus Mane would make a lot of sense, as he's tactically flexible enough to cover all four forwards positions, is young enough to be happy to be a rotation option and not start every game, and with Wolves being relegated shouldn't cost a ridiculous fee. Probably something between 30-40m, which should be around what we would get for Zirkzee.
20 Feb 2026 16:31:14
You're assuming we won't promote anyone.
20 Feb 2026 22:17:12
Or indeed, make some squad additions in the summer which are not only inevitable but critical.
21 Feb 2026 03:51:00
I've been piecing together positions for next year, trickle-feeding these front players in as on-topic. This assumes we are competing in 4 comps and go deep into them. If we exit FA and League Cups early, you can drop one of the 4 for each position. Wide Left Matheus Cunha Patrick Dorgu Shea Lacey James Scanlon Wide Right Bryan Mbeumo Amad Diallo Bendito Mantato Enzo Kana-Biyik Centre-Forwards Benjamin Sesko Chido Obi-Martin Gabriele Biancheri JJ Gabriel Immediately, though, I feel that to truly 'compete' the striker position possibly needs something more, but I am happy enough as both Mbeumo and Cunha can, and will, play in that position.
Assume that players who currently play in these positions and are not named should be sold.