Wolves won battle for Friend

Wolves managed to prise George Friend from Exeter after the Devon club rejected SIX bids for the highly-rated full-back.

Sources in the west country say Wolves beat off competition from West Ham and Plymouth to pay around £350,000 for the 6ft 1ins 20-year-old left-back, who helped the Grecians back to the Football League in last season’s play-off final.

Friend, who has signed a two-year contract plus a one-year option, became the last of three deadline signings, with Matt Hill and Jason Shackell.

The youngster has played just 37 Blue Square Premier and League games, but he has had the scouts flocking to watch him.

Friend had been linked with the Hammers and Wolves hope they have secured a similar low-profile, high gain deal to the ones that saw Michael Kightly and George Elokobi snapped up.