Rob Edwards press conference: Wolves v Bournemouth, transfers, injuries, and Strand Larsen latest

January transfer window: “a very, very tough window”, but Wolves expect movement

Edwards didn’t dress it up. January can be awkward at the best of times, and it gets harder when a club is fighting for points and clarity. He described it as a “very, very tough window”, which will ring true to anyone who has watched deals drag on for weeks before collapsing in the final hours.

The message from the manager was that work is ongoing, and Wolves are not sitting still. His line was simple: we’ll see what happens in the next few days, because the club has been “working on a lot of things”.

There is also a reality check in there. Wolves’ league position affects everything, from the calibre of player available, to wages, to whether selling clubs will even pick up the phone. Edwards admitted Wolves are not exactly “a great proposition” right now, which is blunt, but honest.

When asked whether deadline day could be busy, his answer pointed to at least some movement: he believes “there will be action”, and that the club will be ready.

A few key themes came through in his comments:

• Wolves are pushing deals on multiple fronts, even if nothing is ready to announce.
• Deadline day could bring activity, but January rarely runs to plan.
• Keeping the squad together matters just as much as adding to it.

Jørgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace: deal talk, but “he will be part of the squad tomorrow”

Edwards was asked directly about Jørgen Strand Larsen, after reports that he was close to joining Crystal Palace, then that the move had stalled.

The manager confirmed Strand Larsen has been involved in training and is in contention for the upcoming match. His words were clear:

“He’s trained today and will be part of the squad tomorrow. That is as much as I can say.”

Beyond that, Edwards kept his cards close. The update that will get most attention is the extra detail around Palace’s interest. Crystal Palace have shown strong interest in the Wolves forward, and there is talk of a deal agreed in principle worth in the region of £50m. At the same time, Strand Larsen has still been training with Wolves this week, which keeps the situation live from both angles.

When he was asked if Crystal Palace had backed away from the deal, his reply underlined the distance managers often keep from negotiations:

“That’s them, and I’m working for Wolves, so I don’t know.”

So what does that mean in plain terms? Nothing is confirmed, nothing is ruled out, and Wolves are preparing as if Strand Larsen is available, because right now he is.

José Sá linked with Nottingham Forest: “available tomorrow”

Another name brought up was José Sá, with links suggesting interest from Nottingham Forest.

Edwards’ response was similar in tone to the Strand Larsen update, just with less surrounding noise. He confirmed the keeper has trained and will be available for the match, adding:

“There’s not much to give on that at the moment.”

It’s the sort of line that can mean several things at once. Wolves won’t want to weaken their own position by speaking too freely, and Forest or any other club won’t want to lose momentum by having details aired in public.

Retaining players matters too, not just signings

Edwards also framed the window in a way many fans will appreciate. The focus isn’t only on bringing players in, it’s also on keeping the right ones.

He said Wolves “have been working hard” behind the scenes before deadline day on 2 February, and explained that January is “difficult” and “really challenging”. He also pointed to the importance of retention:

A big part of the work is “retaining people we want to retain, to make sure we’re competitive and in a strong position going forward”.

That matters because a club can “win” a January window by keeping their best players as much as by adding one or two new faces. If Wolves can do both, even better.

Wolves injury news and team availability before Bournemouth

Edwards’ update had one concern and one boost, which is about as balanced as it gets at this stage of the week.

Here are the main points from Wolves’ team news:

1. Ladislav Krejčí: he is struggling with flu and is a slight doubt. Edwards said they will “see how he reacts”, which suggests a late call depending on how he feels closer to kick-off.
2. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde: he is available this week, which Edwards described as “a nice little plus” for Wolves.

Bournemouth match view: respect for Iraola and a proper test

Edwards spoke positively about Bournemouth, and he didn’t try to hide his admiration for their style. He said Wolves have “loads of respect” for Bournemouth and for the job Andoni Iraola is doing.

His description of the Cherries was direct: they are a hard-working team, “full of energy”, and they play on the front foot. He added that he loves watching them play, and that it must be exciting to be connected with the club at the moment.

That is the context for the challenge ahead. Bournemouth at full tempo force teams into decisions, and they test how quickly you can recover shape after losing the ball. If Wolves switch off, they get punished. If Wolves match that intensity, the game becomes a contest rather than a chase.

Edwards also pointed to the mood in his own camp. He said there is “lots of confidence in the group” and it is a game Wolves are looking forward to. He also referenced the last result, saying that even though Wolves lost last time out, they can still take a lot from it.

FER López loan situation: Wolves want minutes for his development

Edwards confirmed that Fer López is looking to go and play, and Wolves want the same for his development. His view was that the move that gets him football “at the moment” is the right decision.

That is often the best thing for a young player. Training every day at a Premier League club is valuable, but nothing sharpens decision-making like competitive minutes, especially when you have to handle pressure, physical duels, and playing with something on the line.

There was also a timely note that López scored for Celta Vigo last night, which will only help the case that regular football is doing him good.

Conclusion

Edwards’ press conference landed on three big points: Strand Larsen is training and in the squad, Wolves have one main illness concern with Krejčí (while Bellegarde is back), and the club expects “action” before the 2 February deadline. The Bournemouth game looks like a proper test of energy and focus, against a side Edwards clearly rates highly. The next few days could shape Wolves’ short-term results and the mood around the club, so it’s worth keeping close watch on both the team news and the transfer headlines.