Manager Julen Lopetegui has revealed his frustration at Wolves' transfer woes and admitted the club are struggling to sign players, with Republic of Ireland defender Matt Doherty the only incoming on a free transfer.
The head coach feels the problems spell "bad news" for him as he tries to rebuild after Premier League survival last season.
Wolves have signed just Doherty on a free transfer, with the Dubliner returning to Molineux three years after leaving for Tottenham.
They are interested in Bristol City's Alex Scott and West Ham's Aaron Cresswell but have sold Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, Nathan Collins and Raul Jimenez to raise around £84 million (€98m).
Lopetegui needed assurances at the end of last season that Wolves, who need to comply with financial fair play rules, could invest and compete after he guided them to Premier League safety but remains unhappy.
"I came here with a project and idea that, if we were able to save the team, we would be able to improve," he told Guillem Balague's Pure Football podcast.
"It was bad news for me. I tried in the summer. This was plan A. We went to a plan B, trying to think about cost-effective players, but it's true at the moment we can't develop this plan, too.
"We lost a lot of players and we think the club want to sell more players. In this situation, we need players to balance the squad and be competitive in the Premier League.
"I know the sporting director, Matt Hobbs, and the recruitment, all this team, have worked very hard to have a plan A and plan B, but unfortunately we can't develop this plan.
"It's a pity because you are thinking at any moment key players can come and, in the end, they don't for different reasons. We were excited by this new plan, but now we don't have this plan because we don't have any new players.
"We had a lot of players out and now we have only incorporated one new free player (Doherty). It is not just for me, but for the sporting director, a big disappointment."
The manager also confirmed forward Daniel Podence is likely to be sold after he did not join the squad for their pre-season trip to Portugal, with Jimenez having already moved to Fulham this week.
"Daniel Podence is not here because the club want to sell him," said Lopetegui.
"If you asked me yesterday morning about Raul, I think Raul is going to stay here and now he leaves. So I don't know what else will happen, we will see."
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast on Monday about the uncertainty at Wolves, former Ireland international Keith Treacy said it was important that Doherty does not get "lost" within any potential upheaval at the club.
"I do think at some point, whether it be a month, two months or six months, Lopetegui will leave but that's going to be a really important time for Matt that he doesn't just get lost in the turnover of managers or ends up in the Under-23s or a bit-part player," he said.
Additional reporting: PA
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