Image source, Getty ImagesThe football never stops.
Euro 2024 has barely finished but Premier League clubs have already started turning their attention to pre-season friendlies.
The games are spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Sligo and Crawley.
So who will your team face? And when and where are the matches?
Image source, Wolves via Getty ImagesWolves beat Italian side Como 1-0 in a pre-season friendly during their training camp in Spain.
Matt Doherty headed Wolves' second-half winner from a Rayan Ait-Nouri free-kick, against a Como team that will play in Serie A next season.
Wolves are leading the race to sign Sheffield United's £20m-rated defender Anel Ahmedhodzic to replace 27-year-old Englishman Max Kilman, who joined West Ham United. (Sun), external
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesWolverhampton Wanderers have rejected a £21m bid from Marseille for striker Hwang Hee-chan.
The Ligue 1 side, managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, have been told the South Korea international is not for sale.
Marseille are looking for a new striker after selling Vitinha to Genoa and Iliman Ndiaye to Everton.
Hwang moved to Molineux from RB Leipzig, initially on loan, in 2021 and has scored 22 goals in 94 appearances, including 13 last season.
Wolves have already boosted their forward line after signing striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo on an initial loan deal, before an expected £23m transfer once certain clauses are triggered during the season.
Gary O'Neil's side are under no pressure to sell their stars after captain Max Kilman's £40m departure to West Ham earlier this month.
They would like to move on Fabio Silva and Goncalo Guedes, who were on loan at Rangers and Villarreal respectively last season.
The pair have not travelled to Marbella with the squad for pre-season training.
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves defender Craig Dawson says "it is nice to be back and feeling fit," after undergoing groin surgery.
The 34-year-old missed the final 12 matches of last season due to injury but has now returned to training to prepare for the new Premier League campaign.
"It was obviously disappointing to pick up an injury, but it was good to get it fixed," he told the club website. "To feel fit and be back on the training pitch is the main thing.
"I was just disappointed not to be able to play because in my career I have not really had any injuries, so I was disappointed to pick one up and it was tough watching the back end of the season. It is nice to be back involved, back with the lads, and feeling fit.
"Throughout my career I’ve always played, injured or not, and I’ve given everything for the team. I did that towards the end, but it got to a point where we had to look a bit longer term and I needed the operation.
"It was a long operation, six or seven hours, so feeling fit again is nice. It is nice to be back and involved with the lads."
Image source, Getty ImagesFirst-team coach Shaun Derry says Wolves' Marbella training camp "is an opportunity to bring the squad together and build relationships" before the the start of another busy Premier League campaign.
It is also manager Gary O'Neil's first full pre-season with the club after he took charge just days before the start of the last campaign.
"It is about the time we spend on the training pitch," Derry told the club website, external. "This is getting the fitness levels back and making sure you understand you can't go too quickly into pre-season.
"From a football perspective, they will be building relationships on the pitch, but it is so important to build them off it as well. It will be interesting from a coaching perspective, just seeing where they sit at the tables and the relationships they build off the pitch."
Not all of the squad have travelled to Marbella due to international commitments, which Derry says is in itself is "quite complex" to navigate.
"To organise a pre-season, you have to take into consideration what the last six weeks have looked like," Derry added. "The Euros and Copa America are still taking place and the boys have played international games over the summer.
"It is a staggered approach coming back to pre-season and once the latter stages come to light, around the America tour, you get all your players back and you can push forward towards the start of the season."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesWolverhampton Wanderers have rejected a £50,000 bid from Arsenal for goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
The Gunners are looking for a back-up for David Raya, with doubts surrounding Aaron Ramsdale's future.
But their offer falls well short of Wolves' valuation, especially as Gary O'Neil's side would need to source a replacement.
Wolves start their Premier League campaign on 17 August at Arsenal and would only have Tom King, who joined from Northampton last year, as senior support for number one Jose Sa.
Ramsdale's position at Arsenal is uncertain after he lost his place to Raya last season. He made just six Premier League appearances, and 11 in all competitions, having joined from Sheffield United in 2021.
Bentley, who joined Wolves from Bristol City in January 2023, made just five Premier League appearances last season.
The 30-year-old is in Spain on Wolves' pre-season training camp before they fly to the USA for games against West Ham United, Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig.
The Gunners also face Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool in the States.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest are both interested in Le Havre's 22-year-old French defender Etienne Youte Kinkoue. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves' Matheus Cunha has had a busy summer.
The forward has found time to get married, give back to the people of his city and act as "a new agent" in persuading Wolves' new right-back Pedro Lima to join the club.
On getting married in the summer, Cunha said: “It was really emotional – I cried a lot! I saw all my family there, my son, and it was very beautiful. My wife was amazing. It was a beautiful moment."
Cunha spent some of the off season at home in Brazil where he spent time giving back to the people of the city.
"I have the opportunity to be someone who represents the people, to encourage the kids to go for their dreams, and it’s a different feeling," he said.
He has been awarded the medal of Joao Pessoa, the Brazilian equivalent of the freedom of the city, and said: "It’s a great honour to be this guy, and I’m really grateful for everything that has happened in my life.”
Cunha has played a key role in Lima joining Wolves this summer. The 25-year-old said of the signing: “It's not normal to even have one player to come from this region, this city, and I’m here, so to have two players from the same city at the same club, it’s unbelievable."
Former Wolves captain and defender Danny Batth is back at the club and training with the under-21s after leaving Norwich City. (Express & Star), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
We asked for your views on club captain Max Kilman leaving Wolves to join West Ham United after a six-year stint at Molineux.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Rob: It was probably a good time to sell Kilman. He had a pretty good season but struggled when we lost Craig Dawson through injury for the final 10-12 games or so. Under the current ownership, Wolves will be a selling club and every player has a price. I think £40m is a great price and it also fantastic for Maidenhead too. However, getting a good replacement is the challenge.
Shaun: He's proved to be a great signing but hasn't really kicked on in the last couple of seasons. He looked vulnerable in a back four and he hasn't really got the personality of a captain. It was a deal that couldn't be turned down, with a fee of that quantum and the chance to sign a more vocal player who could enable us to play a back four when required.
Dave: The Kilman sale was excellent business from Wolves. Max has been very reliable but he looks better when alongside a Craig Dawson or Conor Coady type leader. He never convinced me he was a captain, he was just not vocal enough. I'll be happy to see him go if we keep our more important players like Ait-Nouri and bring in a replacement centre-back.
John: Players come and players go. Wolves need a much bigger squad, so hopefully Gary O'Neil and our owners can get in what we need for a top 10 finish.
Dairve: From a football perspective, it is obviously a blow. From a business viewpoint, it is an excellent deal. Sadly we're not in the minority of clubs who can seemingly spend without consequence, and therefore deals like this are a vital part of Wolves' model for Premier League survival.
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesMax Kilman will leave a hole in the Wolves defence, having been integral to the side's resilience in recent years.
Kilman played every minute of all 38 Premier League games last season, with William Saliba of Arsenal the only other outfield player to achieve the feat.
However, now it will be West Ham who benefit from his reliability, his £40m move reuniting him with former Molineux boss Julen Lopetegui, who made him captain while Wolves head coach.
Wolves have plans in place and were prepared for this eventuality, though.
It is a huge fee for a 27-year-old who cost just £40,000 from Maidenhead in 2018 and represents a stunning deal for the club.
Ultimately, it was too good to turn down and helps fund deals already done for Rodrigo Gomes and Pedro Lima, while Wolves will be able to reinvest some of the cash for Kilman's replacement.
Gary O'Neil has his targets and Wolves will need a solution alongside the ever-dependable Craig Dawson.
It is not ideal but they still have five weeks to prepare, while there is a pre-season trip to Spain next week.
They could face an immediate reunion with Kilman in a friendly against the Hammers, as well as fixtures against Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig in the nited States.
Club captain and centre-back Max Kilman has left Wolves and joined West Ham for £40m.
The 27-year-old made 151 appearances across his seven seasons at Molineux and was not a player Gary O'Neil was actively looking to offload this summer.
So how are you feeling? How much of a loss will the skipper be? And who could replace him?
Arsenal are set to make a move for Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley. (Express & Star), external
Image source, Getty ImagesNathan Fraser has signed a new contract until 2028, with the option to extend for a further year.
The 19-year-old came through the Wolves academy set-up before breaking into Gary O'Neil's first-team squad last season.
Fraser joined Wolves at the age of seven and made 10 appearances in 2023-24, scoring against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup and in the FA Cup against Brentford.
Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs said: "Nathan has been here a long time, so it's nice for him to be able to continue his journey with us.
"The plan this season will be for Nathan to go out on loan. I think it is important - now he's had a taste of men's football - that he gets as much game time as possible under his belt in the league.
"It will be a case of getting him out playing games this year and seeing how he develops doing that."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves have held informal talks with head coach Gary O’Neil about a new deal.
Nothing has been agreed yet and the nature of the conversations have been relaxed but there is a desire to get the deal done and it is expected it would be an easy one to finalise.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said in March the club would speak with O’Neil, who has two years left on his current deal, about a new contract at the end of the season.
Wolves and O’Neil are relaxed with the situation and are currently focused on the transfer window, meaning any agreement is not imminent and may not even come before the start of the new campaign, which kicks off at Arsenal on 16 August.
O’Neil took Wolves to 14th in the Premier League last season having been appointed five days before their opening game at Manchester United after Julen Lopetegui left Molineux in frustration at the recruitment policy.
They were competing for Europe and reached the FA Cup quarter final in March only to lose 3-2 at home to Coventry.
After that Wolves lost eight of their final 11 games – winning once – to tumble out of European contention.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts on the signing of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from La Liga side Celta Vigo.
Here is a flavour of your responses:
Simon: I can't say I'm overly familiar with him but I was in Oslo last weekend when the rumours broke and the locals were very excited and exceedingly complimentary about him. Hopefully he'll be a success and he'll get a banner outside the Ullevaal Stadion [Norway's national stadium] in his honour. I have a good feeling about Larsen as well as our other recent signings.
Andrew: Excellent piece of work to bring him to Wolves. A player coming with high standards and will definitely be a benefit to an ever improving squad.
Bill: At last a proper number nine. He looks like the real deal - got a bit of everything about him and is a bit nasty. Not since the legend that was Steve Bull have we had a proper centre-forward.
Kieran: Fingers crossed he's the answer to our number nine dilemma. We created lots of chances and played good football last season, but without any real bite. We love a striking hero down here and it's not been the same since Raul Jimenez got injured. We've been throwing young players up front to play at the highest level, but none have shone yet. Good luck to the boy!
Sean: Been crying out for a number nine for several years now so he's a welcome addition. Not the finished article but has the attributes to be a progressive improver, and if he takes to the Prem we could be in Europe again by 25/6. The deal structure is very savvy and aids accounting for Financial Fair Play. His heat map shows he is the missing piece of our jigsaw. Well done Matt Hobbs and co.
Paul: The signing most Wolves fans wanted. A proper number nine and heir to Raul Jimenez at last.
Jim: He is absolutely what we need. New players are always a gamble but he seems talented and hungry and just the right age, just like the other signings. Forget the Euros - bring on next season.
Image source, WolvesWolves have unveiled their new home shirt for the 2024-25 Premier League season.
There are several differences from last season's shirt; new front-of-shirt and sleeve sponsors, a new kit manufacturer and, for the first time in 45 years, the club badge is located in the centre of the chest.
The club said its players "actively participated in fit and performance sessions with Sudu to ensure the pro kits meet the rigorous standards that is demanded on the pitch".
Captain Max Kilman added: "Seeing feedback on fabrics, design and our performance needs worked into the finished products has been a really positive experience for us. We are delighted with the final products and excited to wear them this season."
Brazilian full-back Pedro Lima and Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who both completed moves to Wolves on Tuesday, were among those to model the new shirt.
Image source, WolvesWolves are monitoring Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo before a potential move for the 27-year-old Brazilian. (Birmingham Live, external)
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves have confirmed the signing of Brazilian teenager Pedro Lima from Sport Recife.
The 18-year-old defender joins on a five year deal, with an option of a further year, for a fee understood to be £8.5m and subject to work permit and international clearance.
The full-back is an exciting prospect, already featuring 26 games in his debut senior campaign for the Brazilian second-tier side.
In October, Lima was also selected by his country to play in last year's Fifa U17 World Cup and featured in all five of Brazil's matches in the competition.
On the signing, Wolves' sporting director Matt Hobbs said: "There was lots of competition for him, but we’ve been working on bringing him to Wolves for a while now, and he's fully invested in our project.
"He's a person with huge ambition. He has a massive desire to be the best player he can be and we're going to help him meet his goals.
"I expect him to be really competitive and push the players who might be ahead of him at the moment, but in Nelson [Semedo], I think there's no better right-back for him to learn from."
What do you think of the teenager's signing, Wolves fans? Excited by the deal?
