EXCLUSIVE: Wolves could now be forced to sell key player despite rejecting £21m offer as striker reportedly agrees personal terms over exit, informs Wolves of his desire to leave Molineux this summer

Gary O’Neil could be set to lose another key player at Wolves this summer as a European club eye one Molineux favourite.

Unlike last summer, Wolves have not needed to offload key players in order to generate profit this year in the transfer window.

Gary O’Neil has instead started to replenish his squad ahead of next season, however, the manager is not exempt from losing some top talent. 

While Max Kilman has already departed and speculation regarding Pedro Neto’s future still lingers, it’s another crucial squad member who could now leave Molineux. 

Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan agrees personal terms with Marseille amid transfer interest

Last week, it was reported that Wolves had rejected a bid of £21m for Hwang Hee-chan from Marseille. The Ligue 1 outfit are understood to want to sign the Korean, who is under contract at Molineux until 2028.

Now, it’s been reported by The Sun that despite Marseille’s rejected offer, Hwang has made his desire to join the French side clear. The report claims that Hwang has ‘agreed personal terms’ with Marseille, with an understanding that the 28-year-old ‘is keen on a move’ away from Wolves this summer. 

Most importantly, it’s understood that talks between the two clubs are ‘ongoing’, as Wolves are holding out for their £30m asking price for the South Korea international.

In France, the forward’s desire to join Marseille is also reported, with FootMercato relaying the same narrative that Hwang ‘wants to play in Ligue 1’. FootMercato goes as far as to say that ‘all that’s missing’ is for Wolves to reconsider their asking price, with a transfer rumoured to be in place.

If speculation is to be believed, it’s disappointing to learn that Hwang is in favour of an exit this summer after the impact he had on O’Neil’s side last term. Given the understanding that Neto will be allowed to leave the club if an appropriate offer is presented, losing Hwang is surely not an option for Wolves.

O’Neil will not want to lose two of his best attackers ahead of next season, with there being no financial need for the Midlands club to sell their best assets.

Hwang is currently in Marbella with the Wolves squad participating in hot weather training as part of the squad’s pre-season schedule, with him certainly set to be in O’Neil’s plans next season. In 2023/24, Hwang netted 13 goals in all competitions, falling just one goal short of Matheus Cunha in the race for the club’s top scorer.

It would be a huge shame for O’Neil to part ways with the Korean this summer, even if Marseille meet Wolves’ valuation of the player.