Productive week: Wolverhampton launches its rebuild

“I want to get easy wins,” said executive chairman Nathan Shi during the forum with supporters last month. He wasn't talking directly about Raul Jiménez, but bringing back the Mexican striker is arguably the simplest gesture to boost public morale.

The idea had clearly been in the works for some time before the final reception at Molineux against Fulham, but the enthusiastic chant dedicated to Raul that day must have convinced Shi of the importance of keeping the fans happy – and the club acted accordingly. This sequence comes in addition to the high-profile signing of Kieran Trippier: it is therefore a particularly productive week for Wolverhampton.

If these arrivals may seem like "easy victories", they were not necessarily cheap in terms of commitments, even if both players arrived free. Both are 35 years old: Trippier signed for two years, Jiménez for two years with an option for a third season. Their age does not stop the club from believing they will be able to honor these contracts, but it is likely that their playing time will be managed and rationed as the season progresses.

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Trippier confirmed that other clubs had shown interest following his departure from Newcastle. Jiménez, for his part, would have had no difficulty finding a well-paid job elsewhere. For everyone, this commitment also has a personal dimension. Those who closely follow the clues on the networks had perceived for some time Raul's desire to return, including via messages from his partner. “My two children were born here,” Raul explained after signing. When I told them there was a possibility of coming back, they were really happy. »

Trippier spoke of similar family motives: “I will also be closer to my children, which is the most important thing for me. » These considerations remind us that recruiting players is not a simple plug-and-play operation: they are also men and fathers, and their personal comfort counts for the success of an operation.

This return of two executives is only the beginning. Wolverhampton will also need to inject some younger blood and it remains to be seen how many players from the current squad will want to stay, even if the club wants to keep them. On the other hand, the leaders have already resolved two important problems: the absence of leaders in the team last season and the image of slowness or excessive economy criticized by certain skeptics.

There is still much to do to complete the reconstruction, but after assuring their supporters of their desire to rectify the situation, the Wolves have taken a first concrete step.