Wolverhampton Wanderers are aiming to maintain stability within their first-team squad during this January transfer window, as they continue their battle against relegation from the Premier League. The club's recent mini-revival experienced a minor setback on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat away to Manchester City, marking their first loss in six matches across all competitions.
Transfer Negotiations Hit Major Roadblock
According to emerging reports from Sport Witness, Turkish giants Besiktas have potentially decided to 'walk away' from negotiations concerning a deal for Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou. The apparent breakdown in talks stems from a significant valuation disagreement between the two clubs, which has reportedly 'upset' the Turkish side and sections of their local sports media.
Earlier this week, initial reports suggested that a £10 million agreement had been reached for the centre-back to depart Molineux Stadium. This came despite Agbadou's regular role in Wolves' defensive line before his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Both the player and his club had reportedly 'opened up' to the possibility of a transfer, with Agbadou and his agent even spotted at Istanbul airport on January 16.
Valuation Dispute Sparks Controversial Claims
However, negotiations appear to have encountered serious difficulties as Wolves reportedly increased their asking price from €14 million (approximately £12 million) to €17 million (around £14.7 million). This development prompted strong criticism from Murat Özen, a member of the Besiktas Club Congress, who claimed Wolves were 'getting annoying' after 'constantly raising' their valuation 'on a whim'.
The situation escalated further when Turkish football journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu posted on social media platform X: "They agreed to €17m, then they said Beşiktaş should pay the approximately €1m 'FIFA solidarity contribution fee'. Wolves are a joke of a club." This inflammatory statement has added considerable tension to the already strained negotiations between the two clubs.
Current Status and Manager's Perspective
As a direct result of these developments, it appears Besiktas have temporarily 'walked away' from transfer discussions for Agbadou. Whether the two clubs will return to the negotiating table in the coming days remains uncertain, particularly amid additional reports from BBC Sport suggesting Wolves are now holding out for a £17 million fee for the defender.
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards addressed the situation ahead of the weekend, firmly denying reports that Agbadou was refusing to play for the club as "entirely untrue." The defender was included in the matchday squad that travelled to Manchester, though he remained an unused substitute during the 2-0 defeat.
Reflecting on the Manchester City match, Edwards told BBC Match of the Day: "The timing of the two goals didn't help. That made it a difficult start for us. Coming here they can starve you and suffocate. We kept fighting in the second half and we were really pushing to get back into the game. There was a lot of things to take from there but ultimately it was a loss."
He added: "They got the two goals but ultimately, we limited them to very little. We are going up against one of the best teams and away from home as well. We pushed right towards the end. We showed a lot of good character and quality as well."
Broader Context and Future Prospects
While the 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium represented Wolves' first loss since December 27, their recent form has shown notable improvement under Edwards' management. During this period, they have achieved draws against Manchester United, Everton, and Newcastle United, alongside victories against West Ham United in the Premier League and Shrewsbury Town in cup competition.
Although survival in England's top flight remains a considerable challenge with significant work still required, Wanderers have demonstrated enhanced performances and results that provide supporters with renewed optimism heading into the season's final months. The club will be hoping for a productive conclusion to the January transfer window to strengthen their chances of avoiding relegation, though the current impasse with Besiktas represents a complicating factor in their transfer strategy.
