Wolverhampton Wanderers enter the Championship for the first time in almost eight years with the goal of making their stint in the second tier as brief as possible, with the Old Gold recently given a significant boost in their hopes of keeping one of its key players.

Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League last season, ending their eight-year stint, but following relegation, the Black Country club aims to turn their fortunes around at Molineux.

Rob Edwards has been fired as head coach of the club and replaced by relatively unknown Portuguese manager Cesar Peixoto, in a move that Wolves fans will hope mirrors Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival nine years ago.

Wolves have already done some important business in the transfer window and will almost definitely ramp things up in the coming weeks and months, but one of their best items of business this summer could be maintaining the services of one of their players, for which they have recently gotten a huge boost.

Wolves earn a significant boost in their prospects of retaining Fer Lopez this summer, despite relegation.

Wolves, who joined West Ham United and Burnley in the second division, will be striving for an instant return to the Premier League.

Following his release from Newcastle United, Kieran Trippier, 35, has signed a two-year contract with the Old Gold in order to help them secure an immediate return to the top flight, while Mexican striker Raul Jimenez, 35, returns to Molineux on a two-year contract after three years away after being released by Fulham.

Trippier and Jimenez, who are both 70 years old and have made 458 Premier League games combined, join the team to offer a wealth of experience and talent to their ranks.

Peixoto will be busy planning for the remainder of his window in terms of both incomings and outgoings, and he has recently got a boost in his chances of keeping Spanish offensive midfielder Fer Lopez at the club after the summer transfer market.

According to Spanish daily Marca, Celta Vigo cannot afford the permanent arrival of Lopez this summer, thus another loan is the most likely option.

Lopez, 22, joined Wolves from Vigo for about £19 million last summer, but he only made 12 appearances in all competitions before being sold back to the North-West Spanish club in January.

Lopez has a wealth of potential and can play anywhere along the front line, but he excels on the right flank or through the middle. However, he was unable to demonstrate his abilities in a failing Wolves side last season.

As they prepare for the Championship, Peixoto will evaluate each and every player under contract with the club, including Lopez, with whom it would come as no surprise to learn of his intentions to keep him.

It is unclear whether Wolves would be willing to sanction such a trade, given Lopez could be a brand new signing for Wolves this summer, having rarely seen him in action the previous season.

Under contract at Molineux until the summer of 2030, there is little need for Wolves to part ways on the cheap this summer, nor to authorise an unfavourable loan agreement, since his best option could be to stay in the second division next season.

Fer Lopez might take the Championship by storm for Wolverhampton Wanderers next season, and Cesar Peixoto must give him that opportunity.

Peixoto chose to use a 4-2-3-1 system with Gil Vicente, whom he recently guided to sixth place in the Portuguese top flight, and there is every reason to expect he will do the same with Wolves next season.

Lopez can play wherever behind the striker, but on the right flank or through the middle, he might be a game changer at Championship level.

It will take him some time to adjust to the trials and tribulations of the second tier, but Lopez has the potential to be the difference-maker for Wolves next year, serving as the impetus for their return to the Premier League.

Vigo’s refusal to meet Wolves’ valuation provides the club a significant advantage in keeping him next season, and Peixoto should strive to retain his services by whatever means possible following this news.