Wolverhampton Wanderers will be competing in the big time next season.
Brentford's equaliser deep into injury time at Fulham on Saturday confirmed the West Midlands club's promotion into the Premier League after a six-year absence. Nuno Espirito Santo's team won it with four matches to spare, and should now be given a guard of honour by local rival Birmingham City at Molineux on Sunday.
Wolves' ascent is a credit to Nuno's management, who was looking to rebuild his reputation after disappointing spells in charge of Valencia and FC Porto, but their success has also courted controversy due to the raft of Jorge Mendes-represented players who have joined the club. The super-agent's firm Gestifute works closely with Fosun International, the holding company of Wolves, so the Portuguese representative has been accused of having a conflict of interest while he assumes an advisory capacity at the club.
Nuno was Mendes' first-ever client, while Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, Helder Costa, and Ivan Cavaleiro are also under the Gestifute umbrella. Aston Villa, Leeds United, and others have apparently called on the English Football League to investigate the Mendes and Wolves link, and The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby believes Premier League outfits have already been questioning the partnership.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani was vocal when he watched his side fall 3-0 at home to Wolves in March:
Regardless of supposed malpractice behind the scenes, Wolves have been a relentless force in England's second tier this term. Neves dictates play in the middle of the park with a maturity which belies his 21 years, and even 31-year-old John Ruddy has rebuilt his career to become arguably the Championship's best goalkeeper in the 2017-18 campaign. Without recruitment in the summer, Wolves appear capable of a mid-table standing in the Premier League.
Following Sunday's visit from relegation-threatened Birmingham, Wolves' procession into the Premier League concludes with tests against Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday, and Sunderland.