Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves remain in talks with Arsenal over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The England international could cost Wolves about £20m, with an initial loan offer being made last week.

There is a desire from parties to get the deal done but it is seen as a complicated and expensive one, especially given Wolves' financial restrictions.

The Gunners would prefer a straight sale rather than an initial loan for the 26-year-old, who has lost his place in Mikel Arteta's team to David Raya.

Ramsdale, who cost Arsenal l £24m when they signed him from Sheffield United in 2021, has two years left on his deal at Emirates Stadium but wants first-team football.

On Sunday, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil warned that the club needed to be satisfied with their transfer business having sold Pedro Neto to Chelsea and Max Kilman to West Ham for nearly £100m.

Wolves are not expected to spend heavily in the final week of the window but Sunday's 6-2 home defeat by Chelsea acted as a wake-up call.

O'Neil started just one summer signing - Jorgen Strand Larsen - in the loss.

He said: "Once the window shuts it doesn't open for a good few months. When it shuts we need to be comfortable with where we are.

"There's a lot of work for myself and I need to get more out of the group we have. Then there's an understanding the Premier League is tough and if you sell good players it makes you weaker.

"We'll see if it's a break-even window by the time it shuts next Friday. We have raised some good funds and hopefully we can use them well in the next few days."

Wolves were also keen on Burnley winger Luca Koleosho but hopes of agreeing a deal with the Clarets are fading after a £20m offer was rejected last week.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil is taking "responsibility" and not "blaming players" for the side's heavy defeat by Chelsea on Sunday.

They suffered a 6-2 loss to the Blues in a chaotic match that saw them peg the west Londoners back twice in the first half, before a 14-minute hat-trick from Noni Madueke took the game away from them early in the second 45 minutes.

The defeat means Wolves are without a win in their opening two Premier League matches and took a heavy hit to their goal difference as they sit second from bottom in the table.

"I want to be really clear, I'm not sat here blaming players, I'll never ever do that. It's always our responsibility," said the head coach.

"Whatever goes wrong out there whether it's part of my plan or a misunderstanding, it all comes down to me.

"A tough one for them [fans] because they were probably sat there enjoying their team having a real good go against a team that spent billions.

"Going toe to toe and then feeling like there was a huge gulf between the two sides for the rest of it.

"A tough afternoon for the fans which I apologise for on my part because I don't want them to suffer games like that. We played Arsenal and Chelsea, lost our captain [Max Kilman] and probably best player [Pedro Neto], if anyone thought this first two weeks was going to be easy, I knew it wasn't."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Wolves and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Julian: Woeful and inadequate defensive display, particularly in the second half. Far too open and showed tactical naivety against an average at best opposition, who did little to score most of their goals. Most of their goals came from our non-existent left defensive side. Open attacking play is for basketball, not lower mid-table Premier League teams. Wake up.

Phil: Embarrassing. At least three of our players looked like they didn't want to play for Wolves! Did we have a tactical plan? This is certain relegation form.

Malcolm: Why do Wolves try to play in a 4-4-2 when it is obvious the current players perform much better in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 shape. The defence looked vulnerable from the start, but they capitulated in the second half. We need to bring in a goalkeeper and another experienced centre-back before the deadline. Jorgen Strand Larsen looks like a really good striker.

David: A team that looks ripe for relegation. This is what you get for selling your best players and buying second-rate replacements. I did forecast this outcome weeks ago. Fosun have a lot to answer for, and our chairman who is running the club down and telling fans to support another team.

Chelsea fans

Paul: I was well impressed with the second half display. The first half was too open for my liking. I'm really glad for Noni Madueke with his hat-trick and happy for Joao Felix on his second debut goal. It was a lot better than his last debut with the sending off. I hope we shine a lot more this season.

Mike: Madueke and Palmer looked the real deal playing together, albeit Wolves were not exactly on top form. I see speculation already that Noni Madueke will be the next big name to be sold by the club and, with the current owners, nothing would surprise me...

James: It is brilliant to see these lads perform like that. The youngest team in the league are making a name for themselves. I'm so happy to see Noni Madueke get his moment - he always gives his all. Absolutely brilliant from everyone.

Baz: Whatever was said at half-time, it certainly flicked a switch and unlocked Chelsea's talent. More of this please!

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Gary O'Neil has warned Wolves must be "comfortable" with their transfer business when the window shuts on Friday.

Wolves lost 6-2 at home to Chelsea on Sunday, with O'Neil starting just one summer signing in striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

They lost out to Ipswich for Dara O'Shea, who moved to Portman Road from Burnley, while looking for a replacement for £40m Max Kilman after his July move to West Ham.

The club still want to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, although the Gunners rather sell the England international with Wolves having offered an initial loan with an option to buy.

Burnley winger Luca Koleosho is also a target after the club sold Pedro Neto to Chelsea for £54m.

O'Neil said: "Everyone knows the financial restrictions we have and have been there since I arrived. We have raised good funds in this window and the squad will need help.

"Once the window shuts it doesn't open for a good few months, when it shuts we need to be comfortable with where we are.

"There's a lot of work for myself, I need to get more out of the group we have. Then there's an understanding the Premier League is tough and if you sell good players it makes you weaker.

"We'll see if it's a breakeven window by the time it shuts next Friday. We have raised some good funds and hopefully we can use them well in the next few days."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Friday's transfer deadline looms large and Wolves have some thinking to do.

Burnley's Luca Koleosho is a target but, after a defensive nightmare against Chelsea, the work to bring in reinforcements, after Max Kilman's £40m move to West Ham, may intensify.

Wolves missed out on Dara O'Shea, who has joined Ipswich, and it would be naïve to not expect the club to reassess during the week.

They battled back well, levelling twice in the first half, but fell apart after the break as Chelsea cut through at will.

Rayan Ait-Nouri had an afternoon to forget and he was culpable as Noni Madueke ran riot on the right-wing in the second half. The winger was given far too much space and, while he finished his chances well, he is unlikely to be gifted such opportunities by other teams.

If there was a positive amid the defensive chaos, Jorgen Strand Larsen showed off glimpses of what he can offer in terms of his presence, awareness and instincts.

Conceding five goals and losing will take the shine off his goal-scoring home debut, but the Norway striker showed enough to suggest that he has what it takes to adapt to the Premier League quickly.

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 6-2 thumping: "[In the second half] We gave them three goals from nothing really. We gave them one in the first half too. Their second goal came from our own goal kick. The free kick where we don't get back under the ball... these are crazy ways to concede goals.

"Then the fourth and the fifth happened when we had people out of position. We lost our way. It was already a crazy first half. We showed moments of quality but, regardless of what you do with the ball and in your shape, if you give goals away like we did, it was going to be a tough afternoon.

"We gave Chelsea a lot of help, so there is an awful lot I need to fix."

On whether these were early season mistakes or just basic errors: "They were unacceptable from us. I am all for positivity and, when the lads do well, they know they have done well. But from all of us, as a group, to concede those three goals the way we do, it is unacceptable.

"[There was] No left-back in place for the fourth and fifth goals. We allow them to pass straight through the middle of us from a free kick. It was a crazy way to go from the score being at 2-2.

"From 15 or 20 minutes into the game up to half-time, we were the better side. We were in a really good moment. We shoot ourselves in the foot by letting them score from our goal kick and then after half-time we come out and give ourselves a tough task.

"From there, we weren't able to wrestle back any control and it is difficult emotionally - you end up out of shape and it looks open and easy for Chelsea."

On their start to the season: "It has been a tough start for us to play Arsenal and Chelsea. We have got a lot of things to sort out. Then, when we come up against teams that are more closely matched to ourselves, we will cause them a lot of problems."

Image source, Getty Images

Excluding the relegated teams, no side has suffered more Premier League defeats since the start of last season than Wolves (20). The club has now won just one of their 19 league games in the month of August since promotion back to the top-flight in 2019 (D8 L10).

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The word from Compton is that Wolves remain hopeful of adding to their squad before Friday's transfer deadline.

Boss Gary O'Neil knows what they need and what he wants, but Chelsea's visit on Sunday gives others the chance to see what is missing at Molineux.

Their chase of Dara O'Shea is ending in failure, with the defender poised to join Ipswich, and Wolves have already moved on. They could now prioritise a winger, filling the gap left by £54m Pedro Neto's move to Chelsea, and there is interest in 19-year-old Burnley winger Luca Koleosho.

Brentford rejected Wolves' interest in Yoane Wissa, and Italy Under-21 international Koleosho fits the young and cost-effective player with resale value that the club are keen on.

As fate would have it, the Clarets come to Molineux in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

But, for now, the focus is on Chelsea and Neto's return, after his switch to Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

Wolves did the double over the Blues last season, capped by Matheus Cunha's hat-trick in west London and, with Chelsea 'in transition' - as Gary O'Neil called them - Wolves will fancy their chances of maintaining their form against the Blues.

Since Wolves' return to the Premier League in 2018, Chelsea have won just three of their 12 meetings with Wolves.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

It will be interesting to see the Chelsea team, Enzo Maresca has a big squad to pick from. But there will be no Raheem Sterling - he's taken the number seven off him.

Chelsea also played in the Conference League on Thursday night and I thought they were well beaten by Manchester City, but it has to click at some stage for them.

Wolves had their moments against Arsenal and this one has draw all over it.

Amfo's prediction: 0-2

Stephens' prediction: 2-2

Chelsea will probably smash them but I have gone for Wolves to get a draw.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil believes Pedro Neto could have landed a bigger move this summer without his previous injury issues.

The winger joined Chelsea for £54m earlier this month and will make a rapid return to Molineux with the Blues in the Premier League on Sunday.

Neto suffered two separate hamstring injuries which saw him miss almost four months of last season - problems which O'Neil feels possibly denied him a move to a Champions League club.

"The important thing for him now is being able to play week in, week out," he said.

"I always felt he was unfortunate with injuries, he never struck me as injury prone. That will be a question mark around him at the moment.

"It's not one I'd be concerned about, which is why I was desperate to keep him and play him every week, but you can understand that may have had an impact in the summer.

"But he can definitely play at any club in world football. His talent, work ethic and physical attributes allow him to play at whatever level he wants."

Neto, who has taken Raheem Sterling's number seven shirt at Chelsea, made his first start in the 2-0 Conference League win over Servette on Thursday.

The 24-year-old made a second-half substitute appearance in the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday.

His move to Chelsea came after five years at Molineux, having joined from Lazio, and he made 135 appearances for Wolves, scoring 14 goals.

O'Neil added: "He is one of the best out-and-out wide players in world football. What he can do one-v-one, his explosive pace, what he can do when he arrives there, it allows him to do things not many players can do. It was an emotional goodbye.

"He loved it here - his time before I was here and how well it went for him last season on the pitch."

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Reuters

Gary O'Neil refused to give much away as Wolves plot their way through the last days of the transfer window.

There may be frustration spending will be limited before the deadline but he was not showing it at their Compton training ground, speaking ahead of Sunday's visit of Chelsea.

Former boss Julen Lopetegui ultimately left Wolves last summer - paving the way for O'Neil's arrival - because of disagreements over the amount of backing he was going to be given.

O'Neil has fostered a togetherness at Wolves since joining on the eve of last season and harming that unity by publicly criticising the club would be at odds with his temperament and what he has built at Molineux.

The head coach said last week the rewards are greater when you have to work harder to achieve them and Wolves are likely to need to work smartly next week.

He declined to comment on the interest in Dara O'Shea and Aaron Ramsdale but remained hopeful there would be arrivals before the 30 August deadline, while it is understood Wolves would like a winger as a replacement for the departed Pedro Neto.

Though it is no secret Wolves like those two players - and former West Bromwich Albion centre-back O'Shea is keen on a Molineux move - it will come down to their price tags.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil remains hopeful of bringing in new recruits before the transfer deadline.

Burnley defender Dara O'Shea and Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale remain targets but any deals are likely to drag into next week.

Wolves are yet to meet Burnley's £15m asking price for O'Shea, while Arsenal prefer a straight sale, rather than the initial loan that was tabled.

The club would also like to bring in a winger to replace Pedro Neto, after his £54m move to Chelsea, before the 31 August deadline.

"We're trying to do stuff. It's been busy since the window opened for the recruitment team," said O'Neil before Sunday's visit of Chelsea.

"I would expect the next week to be busy in the world of football, there seems to be a lot of clubs trying to do stuff.

"Individual names and rumours, I'm not interested in. We are working hard to do some stuff which we think will help us.

"The important thing is the valuation of the player correct for us? It'll be key for us in terms of what we can and can't do in the next seven days.

"We can do stuff, definitely, it just needs to fit properly for the team and club. I've not heard any [budget] figure in any of my meetings and discussions."

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• O'Neil stressed that the transfer window is more about finding players that fit "football-wise and financially" than anything else. He said: "I've obviously seen some of the noise. I do try to stay away from the noise when I can. There's not really a financial limit, it is more 'are players valuations right?' We can do stuff definitely between now and the end of the window, it just needs to fit for the team and the football club."

• He added: "Some of the figures and things you'll hear banded around, I have not heard any figure in any of my meetings or discussions. It's more 'can we find things that fit football-wise and financially' than a set budget."

• On team news: "No [new issues], we're fine. Matheus Cunha is fine so he'll be able for more minutes. Boubacar Traore has done an extra week's training so he's in a better spot. Everybody else is ok I think, so we are as we were."

• He was asked if the job feels different now, compared to when he was appointed 12 months ago: "I still feel like we're running. We're running as hard as we can to push forward. I'm exactly as driven as I was the day I walked in and the group is the same, there's a real hunger within the group."

• On how difficult it could be, as a coach, to deal with 40-plus players like Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, O'Neil said: "I'm not sure how many he's dealing with day to day but you can see Chelsea Football Club are still in a transition and they are still trying to sort a few bits out. That doesn't mean they can't be successful whilst they are in that transition. The amount of talent they have, they have a top coach as well so they still have every right and chance of finishing very high up the league. Of course there are things that go on behind that can have an impact."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

While Wolves are not expected to throw money around in the final week of the transfer window, they remain hopeful of adding to their squad.

It is likely to dominate Gary O'Neil's press conference ahead of Sunday's visit of Chelsea - and a quick return for Pedro Neto following his £54m move to Stamford Bridge this month.

Wolves have signed Rodrigo Gomes and Pedro Lima for more than £20m, while also making Tommy Doyle's loan from Manchester City permanent. There is also the expected £23m outlay on striker Jorgen Strand Larsen once he makes his initial loan from Celta Vigo permanent.

So there has been money spent and they are willing to spend more, just not at the level some would have hoped for having brought in almost £100m, when Max Kilman's £40m move to West Ham is factored in.

The pursuits of Burnley defender Dara O'Shea and Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale are likely to go into the final week of the window.

O'Shea wants to move to Molineux, allowing him to return to the West Midlands having spent seven years at rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The Clarets are not budging on their £15m valuation of the centre-back, with Wolves so far offering £13m, while the Gunners want to sell Ramsdale, rather than the initial loan Wolves have offered.