Wolves blog: Special season opens up big opportunities

Our second Fosun Premier League campaign will begin in just under three months’ time, but with Wolves’ trip to China and the potential for European football, our season will be starting much sooner.

This kind of worldwide publicity is something that has come into being far more than it was when we were last in the top flight, and we can probably expect trips to other continents in the summer months every season now, especially if we have such successful seasons as we just did. Most top flight teams head off to the USA or Asia regularly these days.

Wolves’ appeal abroad is growing rapidly. The club had to shut their second store in Wolverhampton, but are opening another megastore in Shanghai as well as three pop-up stores elsewhere in China.

The new stadium plans that came out of the End of Season Dinner are magnificent - a single-tiered South Bank is what everyone was hoping for. Some are worried the stadium will look identical to many others (Leicester, Southampton, Middlesbrough et al) but it seems they are continuing the style of Steve Morgan’s North Bank, which I don’t think looks like any other ground.

They are, because of that newer stand, restricted unless they demolished that one too, as the stadium wouldn’t look right if it had drastically different styles of stands.

Judging from the artist’s impression, it will absolutely tower as you come through the Subway. Just think, previously there were talks to move the ground - keeping it where it is was what most wanted and cherished.

It’s a sign of intent from Fosun, and a hint that they aren’t going anywhere any time soon, if they are willing to spend on that scale - of course, it’ll make the club more valuable in the long run.

In terms of the End of Season awards, how perfect that both Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez walked away with a Player of the Season trophy. I opted for Moutinho, who - aside from that losing streak near the end of last year when he and the team dipped in form - has been all-but-perfect.

I still pinch myself that he plays for Wolves. To sign him in our first season back in the top flight, when he still has a couple of good years left in him (at least) was remarkable and made everyone sit up and take notice.

He makes everything look so simple - passing, tackling, controlling the midfield. His set pieces improved during the season and he knocked up a solid amount of assists. His goal at Man United away showed he has got a rocket in his locker, it’d be great to see more of that next season.

Nobody could have expected what Raul Jimenez did this season. When he signed on loan, you expected the club to bring in another forward with a better record. But he fits the system perfectly. His work rate is second-to-none, his attitude is humble and he has hit 17 goals in a top flight season, which is remarkable.

If he can hit a similar amount next year, he and his strike partner Diogo Jota, who improved drastically over the second half of the season, will push us a long way in our attempt to improve on this season. Presumably the club will look to bring in some more firepower up front, but our front pairing is among the best in the league.

Success breeds success, and Wolves’ season has led to all of these opportunities - and hopefully more to come. We are a club in a great position to embrace changes, as we have incredibly ambitious owners. Let’s enjoy the ride.