Wolves main transfer objective clear as Bruno Lage eyes formation change

Wolves officially begin their pre-season matches today and it couldn't be further from what was planned.

The collapse of the Ohio Cup and, subsequently, a tour of the United States in May left Wolves in an almighty pickle. A marketing mission in the US had been in the works for more than three years, with the first postponement caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

A trip stateside would have been all about engaging new supporters - something chairman Jeff Shi has been prioritising as he looks to find new revenue streams. The alternative - a 10-day training camp and four-game series in Benidorm - is very much a victory for the the so-called 'legacy' fans.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that hundreds of Wolves supporters are expected to descend on Benidorm this week. I was joined by several of them on a 6:25am flight from Birmingham Airport this morning. I suspect the flight back will see more than a few people nursing sore heads.

Back to the football, which is why we're all here, right? Wolves take on Deportivo Alaves this evening. The Spanish Segunda Division side should be the perfect warm up for a tastier looking friendly on Saturday evening against Turkish powerhouse Besiktas.

There are behind-closed-doors matches against Levante and Villarreal B on Thursday and Sunday morning, respectively, where Bruno Lage is expected to field fringe players who don't feature prominently in the two showpiece friendlies.

Lage and his players have been training for three weeks now, so their fitness levels should be returning. The finished article should arrive next weekend, when Wolves travel to Portugal to face Sporting and Farense in the space of 24 hours, but we can expect to see training ground plans actioned