Premier League clubs are reported to be seeking talks with the league over concerns regarding Wolverhampton Wanderers and their links with super-agent Jorge Mendes.
A report in the Telegraph claims that the teams in the world's richest league are concerned by the arrangement between owners Fosun and Mendes.
The paper reveals that concerns will be raised at a shareholders meeting on Friday and top of the agenda will be to question whether Wolves have an unfair advantage in the transfer market.
It comes on the back of the EFL meeting with Wolves after concerns were raised by other Championship teams.
Fosun have stated that they will fully comply with any investigations and have always expressed that they have fully complied with all rules and regulations.
The background
Mendes' relationship with Wolves has been criticised by a number of Championship clubs including Leeds United and Aston Villa, with Wolves officials having met with the EFL's chief executive Shaun Harvey to address concerns raised over their transfer dealings that have been linked with the super agent.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi has gone on record as saying the claims are without substance and that the club have done nothing wrong - and Pulis has no complaints.
The Premier League worries come after Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani wrote to the EFL and Football Association.
Most Read
Radrizzani is seeking clarification over the relationship between Wolves and Mendes - and over the influence the super agent wields at Molineux.
Radrizzani questioned whether Mendes' role was breaking the rules in a Twitter outburst following Wolves' win at Elland Road.
He wrote formally to English football's governing bodies earlier this month.
The letter, seen by Sky Sports , asks them to consider whether: "Mr Mendes does indeed materially influence Wolves' policies or the performance of its teams or players in matches."
Radrizzani goes on to ask the FA and EFL to consider Regulation A1 of the FA rules which says: " No club may enter into an agreement which enables any party, other than the club itself to influence materially the club's policies or the performance of its teams or players."
Mendes - who represents Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, and several of Wolves players - works closely with Fosun International, which owns and runs the club.
Mendes also advised Fosun on the purchase of Wolves in 2016.
All you need to know about Wolves now
Don’t miss
A chief executive of one Championship club told Sky Sports: "In 2016, the EFL considered whether those involved were fit and proper owners. However, they didn't consider that an agent would be so involved at all levels of the club.
"Also in 2016, the FA considered Jorge Mendes role at the club and were given assurances at that time.
"However Mendes has much more influence at the club now. He has more players at the club - and importantly he's the agent for the manager. None of this was the case when they looked into the deal in 2016."A Wolves spokesperson said, "We are very clear on FA and EFL regulations and always comply with them explicitly.
"We welcome any form of communication with the EFL to reiterate our position, and we fully anticipate the release of a further EFL statement in support of Wolves and the club's operations to bring a prompt resolution to this matter."
Who is Mendes?
He’s the man being credited with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning recruitment - and the man Wolves’ Championship rivals are pointing the finger at.
Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes has grabbed the headlines recently, despite not doing much to attract them.
Mendes, whose Gestifute agency looks after a number of world class footballers, acts as an adviser to Wolves owners Fosun and a number of his clients have wound up in the Black Country as a result.
The Molineux masses are claiming this expensively assembled crop, managed by Mendes’ client Nuno Espirito Santo, are the best Wolves team in decades.
Some are even comparing Nuno’s Championship title-chasers to Stan Cullis’ all-conquering team of the 1950s.
Mendes wasn’t even born when Cullis’ champions were decimating all who stood before them in the old First Division.
But who is the man behind Wolves' latest surge towards the top? And why are Wolves’ immediate rivals for a place in the Premier League so infuriated by his involvement?
Background
Jorge Paulo Agostinho Mendes was born in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, in 1966.
Like many youngsters growing up in Lisbon, Mendes dreamt of becoming a professional footballer but had to deal with plenty of rejection during his early years.
He wasn’t deemed talented enough with a ball at his feet to warrant a contract with a professional club and quickly turned his attentions elsewhere. Mendes had an eye for business and ran a video rental store before purchasing a nightclub - a move which was inspired by his love for music and his experiences as a DJ.
It was in that nightclub where Mendes met Nuno and the pair instantly struck up a bond. Mendes made it his mission to help Nuno, a goalkeeper with Vitoria Guimaraes at the time, achieve his dream of playing in Spain.
The friendship formed over drinks in that Portuguese nightclub brought Nuno to Wolverhampton.
On the books
Nuno, however, isn’t the only big name on Mendes’ books. In fact, Wolves’ boss doesn’t even come close to being the biggest name.
That accolade undoubtedly falls to Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The Champions League’s all-time top goalscorer is extremely close to Mendes, who brokered the forward’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a world record £80million in 2009.
Ronaldo is joined on the Gestifute books by fellow icons James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria amongst dozens more.
You can access Mendes’ full clientele via Gestifute’s website here.
Why the complaints?
Aston Villa - one of Wolves’ rivals for promotion - and Leeds United are two of several Championship clubs to voice their concerns to the EFL over Mendes’ involvement at Wolves.
Clubs in the second tier want to know how Wolves have been able to acquire what they perceive to be Champions League quality players at Championship prices.
Midfield sensation Ruben Neves has captained Porto, who bowed out of the Champions League last-16 to Liverpool this season.
Diogo Jota also has Porto on his CV, and Atletico Madrid. Ivan Cavaleiro has played for Benfica and Monaco, Helder Costa likewise.
Irrespective of the complaints, it’s a measure of Mendes’ power in the game that he’s been able to convince the likes of Neves, Jota and Cavaleiro to join a Championship club.
After not being talented enough to make the grade at Portuguese minnows, Mendes has become football’s biggest fish and Wolves are quite happy to accommodate him and his players.
What's been said?
News of Villa and Leeds' concerns surfaced just before the duo were set to play Wolves.
Wolves thumped Leeds a couple of weeks back and owner Andrea Radrizzani hit out. He tweeted: "Congratulations to the best team but hope the league can be fair and equal to all 24 teams treatment?
"We should play 24 with the same rules and opportunities (it's enough to Google it).
"We have our own problems but we should [be] in a fair competition. Not legal and fair let one team owned by a fund whom has shares in the biggest players agency with evident benefit (top European clubs giving players with options to buy...why the other 23 have the same)."
Villa played Wolves just days after that match at Elland Road and Steve Bruce questioned how the Championship's top team have been able to attract Neves and Co.
“The big question I think for everybody is how are they luring Champions League players to play in the Championship, basically. That's what we're all asking,” Bruce told Sky Sports.
“It's not for me to get involved with anything like that.
“At the end of the day they've been the best team in the division up until now and that's all I focus on really. Whatever's happening with how they're run and all the rest of it, that's for other people to ask the questions.
“I think we've made it pretty clear about what we feel.
“From what I've read, if the EFL are looking into it, if that's the case and they've got a case to answer to, let's see what they've got.”
Wolves have never denied the fact that they enjoy a very fruitful relationship with Mendes. The Portuguese was linked to Fosun before they agreed to buy out Steve Morgan in 2016 and take ownership of the club.
Amidst all the negativity from their rivals, Wolves felt the need to defend Mendes publicly recently.
Asked about the complaints to the EFL regarding Mendes' involvement, chairman Jeff Shi said: "I was very surprised to see some Twitter of the chairman of Leeds (Andrea Radrizzani) because I knew him, I also had several lunches with him, together with Jorge!
"So it’s very strange. In person I talk to him and he’s nice, so I guess maybe he has the pressure and I understand that.
"I was also surprised to see the Twitter of Keith (Wyness, Villa chief executive). On Saturday I met him and said ‘what happened?’.
"I’m the chairman of a club so I can understand the pressure. We’re the guys facing pressure from fans and the league and I can understand releasing pressure on Twitter.
"On the other hand I think frankly it’s laughable, because they know nothing about us. I know everything about us and our club and what we’re doing.
"I know everything about the rules of the league and the FA and the EFL knows our dealings, every transfer document, agent fees, all information is recorded in their library.
"Our opponents don’t know much about us and it’s not a fair dispute. It’s easy for us to answer all the questions."