WOLVES ON THE UP NOW, INSISTS IKEME
HOMEGROWN Wolves star Carl Ikeme believes Walter Zenga and the club’s Chinese owners Fosun could be the dawn of a new era at Molineux – with promotion the first target.
The 30-year-old Nigerian international signed his first professional contract with Wolves in 2003 and despite seeing eight fulltime managers come and go, along with three owners, he believes things are heading up in the Midlands.
Fosun chairman and Wolves’ new owner Guo Guangchang has an estimated personal wealth of £4.1 billion and Ikeme says the cash injection has led to an optimistic outlook at Wolves.
“It looks like the new owner wants to get promoted pretty soon, so we’re looking forward to building a good relationship with the manager and hopefully having a successful season,” the goalkeeper said.
“The owner is enthusiastic about improving the club in every way, even the training ground and the facilities, they’re big on trying to help the team do well on the pitch.”
Ikeme’s primary focus remains on fulfilling his promotion dreams with Wolves, but having been called up to Nigeria’s international side for the first time in 2015, he is keen to seal World Cup qualification with the Super Eagles.
“That’s been my ambition for a while, to play in the Premier League, and it’s not changed. If you offered me that in two years’ time, I’ll take it!” he said.
His ambitions, however, stretch beyond that too with Ikeme adding: “Hopefully I’ll go to a World Cup as well. I’m taking it one season at a time.
“It’s been a crazy year with Nigeria, we’ve had quite a few changes. We all want to qualify for Russia and that’s the main goal.
“We’ve got so many good players in the squad, we just need to settle down a bit, work with the new manager and qualify.”