Pereira near new Wolves deal despite four defeats

Vitor Pereira is nearing a new contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers despite the club’s worrying start to the Premier League season, with the deal running to the end of the campaign and an agreement expected before the weekend. The Portuguese coach, who took over after Gary O'Neil last December, has won the backing of Wolves’ hierarchy as they pursue long-term stability.

Wolves travel to Leeds United for Saturday’s league meeting, aiming to arrest a four-match losing streak that has left them bottom of the table. They did beat West Ham in the EFL Cup in August, but another league defeat would leave them one of the few teams in Premier League history to start a season with five straight losses.

Pereira inherited a club in the relegation zone when he arrived in December, but he steadied Wolves to 16th and safety, finishing 17 points clear of the drop. They also enjoyed a late-season surge, winning six consecutive Premier League games from March to April, which helped secure survival and earned the club cautious optimism about his ability to build a steadier framework going forward. Since that run ended, however, they have not won in the top flight, with their last league victory a 3-0 win over Leicester.

Executive chairman Jeff Shi has repeatedly signaled his support for Pereira, saying earlier this month that Wolves need stability and a coach who can stay and help for the long term. “Wolves need stability now - we need a coach to stay here and help us for a long time,” Shi said. “Every coach needs time and the jigsaw to be made. We should give the coach enough time and the players he needs to prepare for the season. If you have that foundation, you will have a strong season. If you don’t, maybe you have a doubt.”

Shi also stressed that the issues seen in previous campaigns — particularly on-team chemistry — have improved under Pereira, pointing to a stronger collective spirit and a more defined structure as key foundations for the season ahead. The club’s push to tie Pereira to a new deal reflects its desire to maintain continuity as it shapes its squad and coaching framework for the long term.

The timing of the talks underscores Wolves’ belief that, even amid a slow start, the project Pereira is guiding remains viable. With a pivotal run of fixtures approaching, the decision to extend his tenure would signal a commitment to building from a stable base rather than cycling through managerial changes at a time when results matter most. The coming days should clarify whether the agreement will be finalized before the weekend or in the near term, but the mood inside the club remains focused on cohesion, preparation, and progress on the field.