Bruno Lage has already given Wolves chairman Jeff Shi his summer transfer wish list

Bruno Lage has already told Wolverhampton Wanderers’ transfer committee exactly what he wants from the summer window.

Wolves are back in the mix for European football after an uplifting season under Lage, who replaced the popular Nuno Espirito Santo in the Molineux dugout. Lage has guided his team to eighth place, two points behind seventh-placed West Ham and four off Manchester United in sixth.

Wolves return to Premier League action against Aston Villa today knowing a positive end to the campaign could see the 2020 Europa League quarter-finalists return to Europe - a feat few thought possible when Lage pitched up last June. But the fiercely ambitious former Benfica boss isn’t resting on his laurels. He has already mapped out pre-season, when Wolves are likely to tour the United States, and the club’s summer transfer plans have also been drawn up.

Wolves have been frustratingly quiet in each of Lage’s first two transfer windows, despite his repeated pleas to strengthen the squad directed towards the hierarchy. Wolves signed five new players last summer - two of whom joined on loan - and sold three players to make a small profit.

January saw Chiquinho, Hayao Kawabe and Jeong Sang-bin sign for Wolves, although the latter two were immediately loaned to Grasshoppers. Wolves also allowed Adama Traore to join Barcelona on loan with a £25million purchase option in the winter window.

Lage has been looking to add a new centre-back and a physical striker, but the club hasn’t been able to find suitable signings. The likelihood is Lage’s latest dossier will also include a new midfielder, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Ruben Neves and out-of-contract Joao Moutinho.

“Two months ago I prepared everything,” said Lage. “I