Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that touted new Wolves managerial target Julen Lopetegui would be ‘a good fit’ for the English club.
The Premier League outfit recently opted to sack former boss Bruno Lage after a slow start to the season which saw the club lose four games under the 46-year-old and consequently fall into the relegation zone.
Naturally, they will be hoping to find a new replacement as soon as possible, and it seems as though Wolves may have found a suitable candidate. Indeed, Sky Sports has named Lopetegui – who has just been sacked himself by Sevilla – as someone who the club will hold talks with this weekend.
While speaking about all the managerial talk in an interview with GiveMeSport, Jones offered his own verdict on the situation.
He said: “He was willing to do it back then and it was only other circumstances that meant he didn’t take the job.
“I think that he would probably look at this team and think that he could turn things around.
“Obviously, if they’re going to let him invest, too, then I think that could be a good fit.”
TIF thoughts on Julen Lopetegui and Wolves…
When Jones says Lopetegui was ‘willing to do it back then’, he is referring to the Spaniard’s admission that he nearly joined Wolves back in 2016, only to be offered the head role with his national team instead.
Of that past relationship, the manager said (via Eurosport): “When the federation called, naturally my objective became the national team, but it’s true that before that [Wolves and I] had been working hand-in-hand for some time.
“It was very close but in the end it wasn’t to be.
“I enjoyed the time I spent with them; there were job offers from the Premier League but their project was especially attractive.
“Wolves is a great club, where there would be significant investment and a desire to grow, to shine again.”
Taking all that into account, it certainly is positive that Lopetegui has had some past dealings with the club and so should arrive with a certain understanding of how things operate.
With that in mind – plus the fact that he is a part of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute clientele – it’s probably fair to say he will indeed be a good fit at Wolves should they opt to hand him the job.
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