2024 Wrexham transfer suggests Kieran Trippier could rip up Wolves contract | OneFootball

The former England international's immediate future has been jeopardised

Wolverhampton Wanderers and their supporters haven't exactly had many reasons to be cheerful in recent times, and that continued to be the case as they finished rock-bottom of the 2025/26 Premier League.

The idea of being relegated to the Championship, in some ways, can bring about the exact opposite emotions, as many clubs who have tasted the same fate can attest to in their first second tier season afterward.

For supporters, it is an opportunity to visit new stadiums, or ones which they previously hadn't watched their side play at for many years, an extra eight league matches and, to the joy of, arguably, many, no hassle of VAR.

Alongside newly-relegated counterparts, West Ham United and Burnley, the Old Gold and Black were among the earliest of promotion favourites from the Championship, due to factors such as the squad at Molineux in comparison to that of many upcoming divisional rivals, as well as the finances at their disposal.

And, despite not being able to win over supporters during the first months of his tenure, there was an expectancy that it would be Rob Edwards overseeing such a rebuild in WV1.

That, of course, was the case until the 43-year-old was informed in controversial circumstances by the club's hierarchy, that he was dismissed after a "comprehensive review", with Gil Vicente boss, Cesar Peixoto, expected to be installed in his place.

The most confusing aspect of the decision, unsurprisingly, has been the timing, with Edwards still in situ when Wolves confirmed the free agent signings of Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez, although whether the former's agreement goes through remains to be seen.

Wolves risk Kieran Trippier agreement falling through amid Rob Edwards dismissal

Action Images

Trippier, 35, has spent the past four-and-a-half years as a Newcastle United player, signing for £12m from Atlético Madrid and going on to make 160 appearances for the Magpies, which included their EFL Cup triumph last March.

The man who also scored in England's FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final loss to Croatia in Moscow, boasts extensive experience throughout the pyramid, with 174 outings, six goals and 34 assists coming at Championship level, as well as a promotion from the second tier with Burnley 12 years ago.

After intense speculation and a 'verbal agreement' being reached regarding the length of his contract, Trippier was unveiled as Wanderers' first summer signing, although, officially, it comes as a pre-contract agreement until July 1st - when the 2026/27 campaign officially starts.

Therefore, with Edwards citing a meeting between the duo in the subsequent confirmation statement, Trippier was reportedly one of several first-team players left outraged by Fosun's decision to sack the former boss, and it has since come to light that the defender is now considering his options, with other clubs' offers still on the table when it comes to an eventual free transfer.

George Dobson, Wrexham deal shows Kieran Trippier stance isn't unusual

Action Images

Naturally, it is a messy saga at Molineux which has left many perplexed, but Trippier's overall stance isn't the only time we have seen a pre-contract agreement cancelled involving an EFL player, before moving to a new side.

George Dobson had become a mainstay in Charlton Athletic's midfield between 2021 and 2024, when, after the Addicks were unsuccessful in their aims of reaching a new contract agreement, he would sign a pre-contract agreement with Hungarian outfit, Fehervar.

Such developments were 'confirmed' by the European side in February 2024, before Charlton backed up news of Dobson's exit two-and-a-half months later.

As is the case with Trippier's agreement, Dobson's spell at the Sostoi Stadion, would be in effect from July 1st, 2024, but, on the same day, agreed to cancel due to personal circumstances.

“I spoke to my family and I just felt it would be too hard and we agreed a mutual termination on 1 July," said the 28-year-old.

With the London native then a free agent, this allowed Wrexham to swoop with an initial three-year deal just five days later, with Dobson subsequently becoming a key figure in Phil Parkinson's side which achieved a third successive promotion from the National League to the Championship.

In 2025/26, Dobson started in 31 of his 40 second tier outings as the Red Dragons missed out on the play-offs, with the aforementioned question marks over his future at the time proving to be the Welsh side's gain.

Wolves are on the flipside of this spectrum with Trippier, and it would be hugely damaging to lose a player of such vast experience through manners largely beyond his control.