Wolves admit bid for Steve Sidwell
Friday 24th December 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has admitted missing out on West Ham-bound Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell.
But the manager insisted Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher are not for sale.
Sidwell had agreed to join Wolves when the transfer window opens, only to do a U-turn because his family home is 30 minutes from Upton Park, where he could make his Hammers debut against McCarthy’s side on New Year’s Day.
“I thought he was coming to us,” said McCarthy. “We’d got a deal agreed with Villa and West Ham came in.
“He’s got a house half an hour from there, apparently. He’s been travelling away for a long time and can now travel to work from home every day.”
Sidwell had spoken to former Reading team-mates Marcus Hahnemann, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle about the move.
“With Villa’s permission I’d spoken to him and he’d spoken to Marcus, Hunt and Doyle and wanted to come,” said McCarthy. “And he would have come, no question. But then West Ham ‘kyboshed’ that.
“I’m disappointed because he’s an experienced player and would have been good for us.”
News of Wolves’ pursuit of Sidwell confirms they are seeking a combative central midfielder as well as a centre-back, left-back and striker next month.
Reports say Wolves were blocked from taking Joleon Lescott on loan because Manchester City will only sell, while Middlesbrough’s David Wheater looks set to join Villa. But sources say Lescott has never been likely because he’s left-sided and earns £90,000 a week.
McCarthy scotched talk that he might sell Jarvis, who has been linked with both Liverpool and Everton. “No chance!” he snapped. “We’re in a relegation scrap and the only way we’ll get out of it is with our best players. They’re all in it with us to the bitter end.”
Fletcher cost a club record £7m in the summer but has made just five Premier League starts, sparking speculation he might be on his way. But McCarthy added: “There’s no chance of him going anywhere.”
By Tim Nash
UK Sport
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