£26m Wolves star eyed up by Turkish giants | OneFootball

Several of Wolves' high-profile names have been the subject of exit talk

Wolverhampton Wanderers are entering a new era this season following the appointment of Cesar Peixoto at Molineux, with the 46-year-old also embarking on his first managerial challenge outside his native Portugal at the same time.

For Wolves, it is also their first campaign at Championship level in eight years, when they romped to the title under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo - who will be plotting similar exploits with fellow newly-relegated outfit, West Ham United.

The appointment of Peixoto was met with mixed reactions, with the new boss swiftly replacing Rob Edwards, who was dismissed days after still being in the dugout at the time when Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez agreed pre-contract deals with the West Midlands outfit.

Naturally, the Old Gold and Black have seen several transfer rumours come to the fore regarding both incomings and outgoings after being relegated, with many tipping the club to mount a successful bid for promotion at the first time of asking.

The summer transfer window is now open for business, and with pre-season looming ahead of the competitive campaign's start in August with the EFL Cup first round, many will be intrigued to see what deals Wolves are able to negotiate, with Peixoto and the likes of technical director, Matt Jackson, already plotting what they hope is a successful recruitment drive.

Such feats also coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026, in which as many as eight players are representing Wanderers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Two of those have already netted in the form of Jimenez and Czechia international, Ladislav Krejci, although a new transfer update over the immediate future of the 27-year-old has now dropped.

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Krejci, of course, netted his nation's opening goal of their World Cup in the 2-1 loss to South Korea last week, and also featured against South Africa at Atlanta Stadium in their second Group A game.

The 27-year-old, despite Wolves' extremely disappointing season, was seen as one of the side's better-performing individuals under Vitor Pereira and the aforementioned Edwards.

Krejci was initially loaned in from La Liga outfit, Girona FC, late in the previous summer window - which was also Pereira's last as head coach - but it was confirmed that his switch to Molineux would be turned permanent on a future four-year contract for £26m.

His permanent transfer was then made official earlier this month as Wolves confirmed their retained list ahead of 2026/27, and after links between Krejci and Leeds United surfaced, it has now been claimed by Turkish outlet, Fanatik, that Besiktas have identified the Rosice-born man as their priority target.

The Black Eagles are said to be wanting to add depth in the left-centre-back position, and a potential move for Krejci could be enhanced by his former Wolves teammate, Emmanuel Agbadou.

Agbadou departed Molineux after 13 months earlier in the year to the Super Lig giants, in a deal worth approximately €18m, and it has been reported that he has given a positive reference to chiefs at the Istanbul outfit regarding the ability of his former colleague.

The publication also add that Wolves are braced for offers for the defender as and when Czechia's World Cup comes to an end.

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During his first season in WV1, Krejci played 28 times in the Premier League and scored twice, whilst also having the capability of filling in in midfield as well as his natural position of centre-back.

Having captained Czechia in both World Cup games also, he has continued to be an impressive performer on the global stage, which those high up on the Wolves board could appreciate from a financial standpoint as a handful of suitors appear to lie in wait in the transfer market.

It has been largely accepted by supporters that Krejci will not stick around for the Championship season, while Toti Gomes has also been linked with a move to Benfica, meaning one of Peixoto's main tasks in terms of incomings will be to add reinforcements in this area of his rearguard.

Meanwhile Agbadou, who endured a spell of contrasting fortunes with Wolves, will hope his persuasiveness is enough for Besiktas to seal a high-profile deal of their own.