Wolves owners Fosun Sports Group seeking new investment

EXCLUSIVE: Wolves owners Fosun Sports Group are seeking new investment as they look to stay competitive in the Premier League… amid concerns Julen Lopetegui could LEAVE after learning about the club’s FFP issues

  • FSG previously sold a minority stake to US firm PEAK6 in October 2021
  • The group is looking for overall investment, rather than in Wolves in particular
  • Lopetegui will hold talks with the hierarchy this week about future transfers 

Wolves’ parent company Fosun Sports Group are seeking new backing as they attempt to ensure the club remain competitive in the Premier League.

Mail Sport understands FSG have been approaching possible financial partners in recent weeks, as they did two years ago when selling a minority stake to US investment management firm PEAK6 in October 2021.

FSG are looking for investment in the group overall rather than in Wolves alone but any new partnership would clearly have an impact on the Molineux club. In recent days, boss Julen Lopetegui has cast doubt over his long-term future by indicating he was unaware of the financial restrictions that will limit Wolves’ transfer activity this summer.

Selling a stake in FSG would not change Wolves’ transfer policy in the short term. Their priority is to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, meaning that stars like Ruben Neves are likely to be sold this summer, with few major signings.

This development has troubled Lopetegui, who kept Wolves up despite taking over when they were bottom of the table. The club backed the Spaniard significantly in January, bringing in five players for about £35million to ensure Wolves made it over the line. 

FSG will seek new investment, which is sure to impact Wolves’ finances long-term (chairman Guo Guangchang is pictured centre)

Julen Lopetegui is set to hold talks with the club hierarchy this week to establish transfer plans

They also agreed to buy Matheus Cunha for £44m from Atletico Madrid after an initial loan stint – but that has naturally had an impact on the budget available this summer.

Lopetegui said: ‘Maybe it is going to be a very difficult situation to improve because if you don’t have money and you have to sell a lot of players and you can’t invest it is going to be more difficult for us.

‘Now is the moment to talk, now is the moment to discuss, now is the moment to take a decision, not after one or two months. It is now. 

‘It is new for me to know about financial problems. I didn’t know about them before. I am not thinking we are going to sign from Real Madrid or Barcelona. I am not asking for incredible signings. I am thinking of signing good players, young players, maybe Championship players.’

The agreement to buy Atletico Madrid loanee Matheus Cunha will also have a financial impact

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