Exclusive: Wolves plot move to sign midfielder starring at Ipswich Town | OneFootball

Now confirmed as a Championship side for next season, Wolves are already eyeing some early deals

Wolverhampton Wanderers' place in the 2026-27 Championship has officially been confirmed, and the Midlands outfit are already eyeing up some early incoming deals - including one for a Championship promotion winner, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

It has been a season of struggle for Wolves in the top flight, with their eight-year stay in the Premier League coming to an end, with Rob Edwards unable to save them from the drop after being appointed to replace Gary O'Neil last November after quickly jumping ship from Middlesbrough.

And with still five matches left to play in their current campaign, the Molineux outfit are going to have to prepare for life in the second tier once more, and with the prospect of losing their better players to bigger clubs, Wolves and Edwards are going to have to lead a significant rebuild.

Wolves eyeing bargain deal for Sunderland outcast Dan Neil

It's unclear what kind of budget Wolves' recruitment team are going to be provided with and what funds will be given from the expected sales of individuals such as André and João Gomes, but it appears that plans are in place to try and add some promotion-winning EFL experience to their ranks, to add to the recent January addition of Adam Armstrong from Southampton.

FLW understands that Sunderland outcast Dan Neil is on the club's radar for a bargain summer move, with his contract at the Stadium of Light coming to an end in June.

A Black Cats academy graduate, Neil racked up 201 appearances for Sunderland's first-team, but only three of those came in this season's Premier League, having found himself way down the pecking order under Regis Le Bris.

Late on in the January transfer window, Neil was loaned out to promotion-chasing Championship outfit Ipswich Town, where he has appeared 13 times in the Tractor Boys' push for an immediate return to the Premier League, although they may end up having to settle for the play-offs if results do not go their way in the coming weeks.

Sunderland have already confirmed that their 24-year-old former captain will be leaving on a free transfer this summer to seek a permanent pastures new, and whilst it isn't known as to whether Ipswich will be pursuing a full-time move for Neil's services, Wolves are definitely interested in securing him on a bargain deal.

Wolves may need midfield additions desperately after Premier League relegation

Wolves could have to oversee an exodus this summer if they want to cut costs following their relegation, with some of their main assets plying their trade in the middle of the park.

The aforementioned André and João Gomes will likely attract admirers this coming summer and Angel Gomes will likely return to his parent club Marseille, which would leave just Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and the returning Tommy Doyle when his loan deal with Birmingham City expires.

Reinforcements therefore will be needed in the engine room, and Neil would represent plenty of Championship experience, and at the age of 24 he is still relatively young.

Depending on how much Wolves raise in terms of funding through player sales, they may be restricted on what kind of transfer fees they can pay this summer to work around the EFL's financial rules - Neil on a freebie could be the perfect way to start the summer, but he will only have Ipswich's promotion battle on his mind for now.