Wolverhampton Wanderers have once again leaned on super-agent Jorge Mendes, marking a notable return to a familiar playbook as the club parted ways with Gary O’Neil. Mendes, whose influence has been inextricably linked to Wolves since Fosun’s takeover in 2016, helped to secure Vitor Pereira as O’Neil’s successor after an increasingly fractured situation at Molineux reached its breaking point.

O’Neil’s sacking came swiftly after Saturday’s dismal 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town, a result that culminated in chaotic post-match scenes and signaled that Wolves’ patience had run out. For weeks, O’Neil looked like a man under siege, struggling with an unraveling squad, defensive frailties, and diminishing authority.

Wolves had originally appointed O’Neil as a stabilising force after Julen Lopetegui’s last-minute exit just days before the 2023-24 campaign began. To his credit, O’Neil successfully steered the club clear of relegation and delivered memorable victories over Chelsea and Tottenham. However, the cracks began to show as early as January 2024, when a lack of transfer activity left him disillusioned. O’Neil had sought reinforcements—particularly a striker—but Wolves failed to deliver.

An untimely injury crisis derailed Wolves’ momentum, with key attackers like Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan, and Matheus Cunha sidelined for weeks. Wolves limped to the end of the season, sliding from the fringes of European contention into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Wolves’ summer transfer window did little to reassure O’Neil. Despite his insistence on signing first-team-ready players, only striker Jorgen Strand Larsen cemented a role in the team. The squad’s deficiencies, paired with a punishing early-season fixture list, compounded the problems.

O’Neil’s tactical shifts—including a move to a back four—invited criticism, particularly when the defensive solidity of last season appeared to disintegrate. Meanwhile, signs of discontent in the dressing room emerged: Jose Sa venturing into the crowd, Mario Lemina’s public meltdowns, and Matheus Cunha’s heated clash with staff after the Ipswich defeat. While senior players still supported O’Neil, it was clear he had lost authority.

The Wolves hierarchy, led by sporting director Matt Hobbs and executive chairman Jeff Shi, ultimately concluded that a managerial change was unavoidable.

For the past two years, Wolves have sought to reduce their reliance on Mendes, attempting to build a more traditional recruitment model under Hobbs. However, with O’Neil’s position untenable and top-tier candidates like Graham Potter rejecting their advances, Wolves turned to Mendes to identify their next move.

Enter Vitor Pereira. A long-time Mendes client, Pereira has been on Wolves’ radar since Fosun’s early days in charge, and his availability—despite being under contract with Saudi club Al Shabab—made him an attractive option. Mendes’ involvement ensured swift negotiations, with Wolves reportedly ready to trigger Pereira’s release clause.

The move feels like a partial return to “Fosun: Phase One”—the era where Mendes’ influence helped bring in players like Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Raul Jimenez, propelling Wolves to success under Nuno Espirito Santo. While Wolves have since sought to operate more independently, Mendes’ connections remain invaluable when urgent action is needed.

Pereira inherits a difficult situation. Wolves’ struggles this season stem from a lack of squad depth and vulnerabilities in key areas, particularly defence. The January transfer window looms large, with a centre-back identified as a priority signing to strengthen Pereira’s hand. Mendes’ involvement in the managerial appointment raises the likelihood that he will also play a role in player recruitment.

However, Wolves will be wary of overextending. Mendes’ previous signings—such as Matheus Nunes and Goncalo Guedes—were expensive gambles, and while Wolves made a profit on Nunes, the financial fallout of their January 2023 spending spree caused significant Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns. Fosun has since prioritised self-sufficiency, a principle that will shape any transfer activity under Pereira.

Despite his shortcomings, O’Neil leaves Wolves with his reputation largely intact. He took over in challenging circumstances and delivered moments of genuine progress before the squad’s limitations caught up with him. His relationship with Hobbs remained positive to the end, and senior figures at Wolves acknowledge the role injuries and a tough fixture list played in his downfall.

Yet O’Neil’s decision-making also raised questions. His abrupt dismissal of Jack Wilson, Wolves’ first set-piece coach, after just three months created internal tensions. Likewise, the decision to appoint Lemina as captain—only to strip him of the role after his outburst—added to the sense of instability.

Wolves’ return to Mendes reflects their need for a proven fixer in a turbulent period. While Fosun remains committed to a sustainable model, this move highlights their readiness to rely on trusted allies when the situation demands it.

For Wolves fans, Pereira’s arrival signals another reset. Whether this partnership can lift the club back to stability—and avoid the pitfalls of the past—will depend on Mendes, Pereira, and Hobbs aligning their strategies in a crucial January transfer window.

Once again, the Molineux spotlight is firmly on Jorge Mendes, and the stakes are higher than ever.