Barcelona have ruled themselves out of signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves this summer. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Image source, PA MediaWolves have been charged by the Football Association for an incident in the closing stages of their 4-2 loss to Leeds at Molineux in the Premier League on Saturday.
Players and coaching staff remonstrated with officials after Rodrigo's stoppage-time goal was allowed to stand, despite Wolves' claims that Adama Traore was fouled in the build-up.
"It is alleged the club failed to ensure its players and/or technical area occupants do not behave in a way which is improper towards an assistant referee and the fourth official," said an FA statement.
Wolves have until Monday to respond to the FA charge.
Unused substitute Matheus Nunes was shown a red card for his protests, but that was later rescinded after Wolves successfully appealed and the Portugal midfielder will be free to face Nottingham Forest on 1 April.
Image source, Getty ImagesJeong Sang-bin will move to Minnesota United in the MLS on a permanent deal 14 months after signing for Wolves.
The South Korea international joined in January 2022 from Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K-League and went straight on loan to Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zurich.
Wolves will see a "significant financial return" on the sale of the 20-year-old forward, who did not make a competitive appearance for the club.
Wolves' strategic player marketing manager Matt Jackson has thanked Grasshopper manager Giorgio Contini and his staff for helping with Jeong's development.
“With all of our decisions when it comes to players leaving the club, we want to ensure the moves work for all parties involved, but especially the players," said Jackson.
"We felt this was a really good opportunity for Sang-bin to further his development and get the regular game time that he now needs.
"We would like to wish Sang-bin all the best for his future and look forward to following his career with interest as he develops into a top player."
Mike Taylor, BBC Radio WM
Premier League managers are expected to ready themselves for post-match interviews within a strict time limit - but Julen Lopetegui remained holed up in the Wolves dressing room.
Us radio reporters assumed he had gone to give the referee a piece of his mind, but evidently not. "I don’t want to listen to any explanations," he said icily. "I know football a little bit."
You did not need to know as much as Lopetegui, though, to see Saturday’s other theme. The Leeds defeat was just like the preceding Newcastle game.
Wolves fans were more receptive to the complaints of Lopetegui and his players than the Match of the Day pundits. Yes, they could have had an early penalty to equalise and - just as at St James’ Park - the game might then have taken a different course. Leeds’ last goal might have been erased.
But the referee was not responsible for the chances fluffed or the slovenly defending. Wolves might well have lost anyway.
One of football’s recurring cliches is getting straight back on the horse, for the next game to come quickly to flush a bad showing out of the system. However, Wolves were in such a funk that breaking the squad up for a week might be a good thing to draw some of the heat out. Such tension does not aid clear thinking.
I see another reliable trope, the call for a 'siege mentality', appearing in some online Wolves comment. Enticing, but dangerous.
Lopetegui said he could "write a book" about all the decisions that have aggrieved him since he arrived - and, at this rate, somebody probably will.
But, as the hackles rise - and remember Wolves play Nottingham Forest next, with the teams apparently not on friendly terms - it is a short misstep from 'us against the world' to 'the world has got it in for us'. From the siege mindset to paranoia, only losing focus and wasting energy.
The international break is fortunately timed, allowing Wolves room to dial it down.
After the past few games, Wolves have grounds for hard questions. They should address them to the mirror first.
*BBC Radio WM Football phone-in continues week nights from 18:00 GMT.
Manchester United and Liverpool lead Barcelona in the race to sign Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves this summer. (Football Insider, external)
Meanwhile, Wolves' owners are in talks to buy a stake in Belgian club KV Oostende. (Guardian, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Matt Cooper, Talking Wolves, external
Wolves were dragged right back into a relegation battle as Leeds United gained three vital points at Molineux. Wolves created a host of chances but failed to put the ball in the back of the net - the story of the past 18 months.
Wolves may feel that they were wronged by referee Michael Sailsbury and VAR, but I am fed up of hearing the same excuses week in, week out.
Yes, the standard of refereeing in the Premier League is well below par - but it’s the same for every team.
It does feel like Wolves aren’t getting the rub of the green more than other clubs, but the focus should be on winning games first and worrying about contentious decisions later.
For what it is worth, I don’t feel Wolves should have been awarded a penalty, Craig Dawson could have been sent off and Jonny was rightly dismissed. I think the only decision Wolves can feel aggrieved by is the Matheus Nunes sending off, which should be overturned.
Some fans have questioned the fight of some of the players, but I don’t think that is warranted because the team showed plenty of it.
It was individual errors and a lack of decisiveness in the final third and penalty area that cost Julen Lopetegui's side.
We asked for your views on Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Leeds.
Here are some of your comments:
Wolves fans
Mark: We outplayed Leeds for most of the game but gifted them four goals. Our defending in the box was awful and that more than cancelled out our excellent work elsewhere. We have no leadership in the backline and if we cannot sort that out immediately then we will go down.
Paul: Poor, poor defending. However, again poor, poor finishing and decision making. We pass it very precariously around the back and put ourselves under pressure. I would like to see Adama start every game - he causes havoc. We need to raise our game to stay in this league.
VJ: Shocking subs and defending... you can't take off two of our best players in Dawson and Neves and expect to get anything out of the game. We were on top at 2-3, Neves then gets subbed and we were no longer a threat. Having said that, we had enough chances but just don't have the quality up front... Forest is a must-win game!
Leeds fans
Graham: At this stage of the season the result means everything no matter how it's achieved. They were getting overrun in midfield again and couldn't stop Wolves going forward, which is a worry. The first goal was very well worked and the others were more opportunistic. Let's hope that this is the start of a good run of results and survival from relegation.
Mac: Delighted. Four excellent goals away against a tough side, we absorbed huge pressure brilliantly, and the two goals we did concede were freaks that we couldn't have done anything about anyway. Javi Gracia is an impressive character and seems to be just what we needed. Let's kick on.
Robert: Great result, well played team. We created the chances and for once we took most of them. The key to our survival is to now back that up time and time again. Confidence over the last few games is growing and showing!
Still yet to catch up on all the action from Saturday's Premier League fixtures?
Watch Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer now
And, if you missed Sunday's Match of the Day 2, you can find it here
Were you at the match or watching from home?
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We have lost three important points against a big team, but I am angry above all because we didn’t deserve to lose. Today it was very clear we missed a lot of chances. They scored with their only chance of the first half. In the second we tried to continue in the same way but we conceded stupid goals."
On the decision not to award Wolves a first-half penalty: "I don’t understand how [the referee] doesn’t call the foul – in the same way as in the last match against Newcastle [last weekend]. Maybe when you have the same mistakes a lot of times against you, it’s not balanced. The referee decisions until this moment [since my arrival], I can make a book – it’s incredible.
"I understand a mistake because it’s human. I’ve seen the penalty against Nelson Semedo – he has a knee injury and [Junior Firpo] doesn’t touch the ball. [The referee] has a fantastic [view] for TV. I don’t know why [the decision] doesn’t change.
"I’m not waiting for [further apologies]. I just want them [the officials] to do their job. Today it’s very difficult for me to understand the decision, but I have to accept I can’t fight it. Maybe we have to change ourselves, but if they can’t change the fairness, we have to do better."
On unused substitute Matheus Nunes' late red card: "He was complaining about the linesman. It was a very clear foul for the fourth goal for Leeds. I’ve seen the same images that [the referee] has seen, but he said no. It’s not a red card.
"You can see the images, you can review the matches since I am here. It’s a pity. I repeat, today is a bad day to analyse the things. We have to be ready for the next match."
Matthew Howarth, BBC Sport
Not for the first time since Julen Lopetegui’s appointment, Wolves were left incensed by several contentious refereeing decisions in Saturday’s damaging home defeat by Leeds.
The home side were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty minutes after Jack Harrison’s early opener, but Junior Firpo’s challenge on Nelson Semedo went unpunished.
They were also unhappy with Rodrigo’s effort in second-half stoppage time, which came after Marc Roca had appeared to grab hold of Adama Traore’s shirt.
They could have no complaints, however, with Jonny’s dismissal for a reckless, second-half challenge on Leeds captain Luke Ayling, who thankfully managed to avoid serious injury.
Wolves wasted several promising first-half opportunities to get themselves back into the game after Harrison’s strike, but a combination of smart goalkeeping, wayward finishing and last-ditch defending proved their undoing.
After conceding four for the first time since October, Wolves' meeting with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest after the international break now takes on added importance.
The confirmed Wolves and Leeds team news is in, with kick-off at Molineux just under an hour away.
Follow live updates, plus the rest of Saturday's action here
Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha are both fit for Wolves after overcoming respective heel and ankle issues.
Hwang Hee-chan is unavailable through injury, while this game comes too soon for Boubacar Traore.
Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams is ruled out with a hamstring problem.
Fit-again forward Rodrigo could start his first game for eight weeks, while Liam Cooper is also in contention but Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw remain sidelined.
Image source, Getty ImagesFor this week's Premier League and FA Cup predictions Chris Sutton faces Black Honey guitarist Chris Ostler.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
There were lots of goals the last time these two teams met at Molineux at the end of last season. I don't see it being quite as thrilling this time, but there is a lot at stake.
It feels like I say every week with these predictions that Leeds have got some very talented players, but they don't take their chances. I worry about them too.
Wolves don't score many goals either but I thought they deserved to get something from their trip to Newcastle last week, and I can see them nicking this one at home.
Chris Ostler's prediction: 1-0
This is going to be close, and neither team scores many.
Find out what Sutton and Ostler predicted for the rest of the weekend's games and cast your vote
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves' manager Julen Lopetegui feels all the teams in the relegation battle "are going to be ready" to fight for all available points.
Wolves sit 13th in the Premier League table, three points above Bournemouth in 18th but, the Cherries have played a game less.
As they head into the backend of the season, Lopetegui's side face five of their relegation rivals across their final 11 matches.
"My point of view is it is a lot of good teams fighting with the same aim so we have to be ready to be able to continue in the race, to have the best mentality, with the best way to play," said Lopetegui.
"Above all, putting the focus in our players and our team and to be able to improve."
Wolves welcome Leeds to Molineux on Saturday and the Spaniard feels the match "has the same importance for them and for us".
He added: "Each match is going to be very important and a chance to achieve three points. It's difficult because all teams are going to be ready."
The former Sevilla manager will come up against compatriot Javi Gracia for the third time in his career - having beaten him twice when Gracia managed Valencia - and has praised his Leeds side ahead of the match.
"They have a very good squad, players and big quality. We wait for a tough match, we have to be ready of course," Lopetegui added.
"We try to improve step by step and now we have the focus. The next match is Leeds, it's got enough importance, we don't think about anything differently. We have to be ready."
Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Wolves' Premier League match against Leeds on Saturday.
Here are the best lines from his news conference:
Lopetegui confirmed that Hwang Hee-Chan has picked up a new injury and is out until after the international break. Boubacar Traore is close to returning but won’t be ready for Leeds, while Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha are both fit for the match.
On the game against Leeds, he feels it "is important for both" and is expecting a "tough match".
On whether they have improved since the last international break, he said: "Our only focus is game by game and step by step."
When asked about Patrick Vieira's sacking by Crystal Palace, he said: "When one colleague is sacked I am sorry a lot, because it is hard work our job and I think he has worked a very good way for many years here."
Lopetegui feels "a lot of very good teams are fighting for the same aim" in the relegation battle, but that Wolves need to be "ready to continue in this race".
On the importance of the Wolves supporters, he said: "They're going to be very key and important to play in the environment that we need, to feel the support that we are going to need, because it is going to be a very balanced match."
Wolves are set to offer captain and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 26, a new contract. (90min, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
