The full list of Burnley and Wolves' highest paid players as EFL Championship looms | OneFootball

Wolves and Burnley have suffered relegation to the Championship, and they will both have high wage bills as they look to bounce back next season.

Wolves and Burnley have both endured very miserable seasons, with the two clubs having already suffered relegation from the Premier League.

In the Clarets’ case, that wasn’t too much of a surprise, as they were always going to find it difficult having won promotion, although supporters are understandably angry that they didn’t put up more of a fight in the top flight.

Wolves have been on a downward trajectory for years now, but their fall this season has been spectacular, with cost-cutting from owners Fosun, and poor decisions in the transfer market, catching up with them.

Wolves and Burnley will have high wage bills by Championship standards

Given the gap in resources between the top two divisions, Wolves and Burnley will start next season with an expectation of winning promotion, and that's likely to be reflected in the respective wage bills.

They are likely to be two of the biggest spenders on salaries, even if a host of players move on this summer, and the parachute payments they receive will allow them to operate on a budget much bigger than most Championship rivals.

With that in mind, we look at the top FIVE earners at Molineux and Turf Moor right now, but we must stress that these figures are estimates.

Furthermore, it is expected that all players at Wolves and Burnley will see their wages slashed by up to 50% due to relegation, so these estimated figures can be halved when they start next season…

Wolves

Joao Gomes - £105,000 a week

Most Wolves fans would agree that Joao Gomes is the best player at the club, so it’s no surprise that Capology believe he is the highest paid player at Molineux, with wages at the six-figure a week mark.

Obviously, it would be difficult to carry players on even half of that in the Championship, but it’s inevitable that Gomes will depart this summer. The Brazil international has already attracted interest from Atlético Madrid, and Wolves are likely to receive a hefty fee for their midfielder, which will be put towards what needs to be an extensive rebuild.

Toti Gomes - £80,000 a week

Again, these figures are estimates, but it’s fair to say that this would be more surprising, as Toti Gomes hasn’t even been a regular in the XI this season.

The left-sided centre-back has been a reliable player over the years, and, normally, you would expect him to be one of the players who would stick around. However, if he is on such a substantial wage, even with a relegation decrease, Wolves may look to move Gomes on, as it could be argued there are better value options out there.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - £75,000 a week

It’s a similar story with Bellegarde, who joined Wolves from Strasbourg in the summer of 2023. Over the past few years he has shown occasional flashes of ability, but he has struggled for consistency, and it may be a surprise to see him on such a salary.

Again, he may be difficult to shift, and it’s unclear whether Bellegarde will stick around, as he could become an important player in the Championship, but, as we know, money talks and big decisions loom over the Haiti international, who is expected to feature in the World Cup this summer.

Tolu Arokodare - £75,000 a week

The striker hasn’t lived up to expectations since his move from Genk for around £24m, and, as yet another player who doesn’t always play, it highlights how bad Wolves’ recruitment has been that he is thought to be another top earner on £75,000 a week.

When you pay such a fee for a player, they’re always going to get a decent wage, but Arokodare hasn’t delivered anything near value for money so far. A dressing room bust-up with Mateus Mane prompted reports Wolves want to sell the Nigerian in the summer, but it may not be straightforward, as they won’t get their money back on the striker, and he may not get this money elsewhere, so it’s one that may drag out in the summer if he isn’t part of the plans.

Hwang Hee-chan - £70,000 a week

The South Korean international is claimed to be the fifth-highest earner at Wolves right now, with the forward having been at Molineux since 2021, but he has really struggled in the past few years, and many fans would hope Hwang moves on this summer.

Again, his struggles mean finding a buyer won’t be easy, but it does seem best for all parties that the attacker leaves, whether it’s on loan or a permanent basis, as his current contract runs until 2028.

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Kyle Walker - £75,000 a week

Onto Burnley, Capology estimates that Kyle Walker is the top earner at Turf Moor on £75,000 a week, and, given his status in the game, he was always going to command a substantial wage.

Walker signed a two-year contract with Burnley, so he still has 12 months to go, and the player has suggested he will stick around. Given his performances in the Premier League, it’s hard to imagine there will be many top flight suitors for Walker, so unless he takes a pay cut or fancies a new challenge, the ex-England international could be a key figure for Burnley’s promotion push.

James Ward-Prowse - £57,500 a week

The midfielder joined Burnley on loan from West Ham in January, and it’s thought that the Clarets have paid 50% of his wages.

Therefore, it’s clearly going to be a long shot to keep Ward-Prowse, who has a year to go on his West Ham deal, and a lot could depend on whether the Hammers are relegated as well. If they aren’t, they will have to subsidise an even bigger chunk if Burnley wanted the midfielder again, but if they do go down, it could make a deal more realistic if Ward-Prowse suffers a wage drop.

Josh Cullen - £55,000 a week

The Irish international suffered a serious knee injury at the end of December, in what was a real blow for Cullen and Burnley. Unfortunately, his recovery will go into next season as well, so there’s no real chance that the midfielder will leave this summer.

Once he gets back to full fitness, you would expect Cullen to be a key player for Burnley next season, as he has proven himself at this level over the years, and his influence on the team is clear to see.

Lesley Ugochukwu - £50,000 a week

Burnley paid around £20m for Ugochukwu in the summer from Chelsea, but he hasn’t made much of an impact in what has been a tough campaign for the club as a whole. Given the fee paid, he was always going to be a high earner, so it’s no surprise he has made this list.

Moving forward, it wouldn’t be a shock if Ugochukwu left, but, as with some of the Wolves players, Burnley could struggle to get their money back. So, it’s one to watch over the summer, and it will obviously depend on whether the Frenchman is committed to sticking around and trying to get the club back to the Premier League.