Stefan Maierhofer set to leave Wolves

Saturday 20th August 2011, 11:50AM BST.

Stefan Maierhofer in action for Wolves
Stefan Maierhofer in action for Wolves

Wolves striker Stefan Maierhofer is set to move to Red Bull Salzburg for around £1million.

The clubs are still finalising the fee but the 29-year-old is flying out to Austria this afternoon and will undergo a medical on Monday with a view to signing a two-year contract, plus an option for a further 12 months.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey confirmed: “Stefan has been given permission by Mick and myself to talk to Red Bull Salzburg with a view to a move being concluded over the weekend or Monday or Tuesday.”

The turn of events signals a sharp about-turn after boss Mick McCarthy said on Monday that the 6ft 7ins forward would be in his 25-man squad.

Maierhofer even came off the bench to make his first appearance since December 2009 last Saturday in the opening-day win at Blackburn, in what was only his 10th appearance for the club.

But quotes from Red Bull saying he was their number one target got the clubs talking, as at that stage, Wolves had had no direct contact from Salzburg.

And I understand Wolves were left with mixed feelings over the deal, after the player was finally beginning to convince McCarthy of his capabilities.

But ultimately Maierhofer wanted regular football and he wasn’t going to get that at Molineux behind Kevin Doyle, Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Should the deal go through, Maierhofer will become the 14th departure from Wolves this summer, although only the second for cash after Greg Halford joined Portsmouth for a similar amount.

And McCarthy could now be poised to go back into the transfer market.

By Tim Nash


  1. 1
    Greg

    I had a suspicion he’d be off!

    £1 mill is great business for an unsettled 29 year old with 12 months left on his deal.

    Who’d have though we’d have gotten £2 million for Greg “Roger Johnson” Halford and the Hoff!??!

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  2. 2
    micks big toe

    14 players out 3 in think we have cut the wage bill Jez now go and get a L/B please.

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  3. 3
    Tonto

    The whole thing about the Hoff being in the 25 man squad being on & coming off the bench against Blackburn was nothing more than window dressing, not a few posts last week said the same thing. So, well done Moxey and McCarthey. Now with his wages as good as off the bill and a million in the coffers, can we be looking for additional strength in depth for the defence please?

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    kiwiwolfffffffff

    Shame…
    Hoff is a good player and never really given a fair chance was he…

    Goodluck to him and what about a good midfielder and left back pls…

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Wigmore

    Another net loss on a MM purchase.
    He cost £1.8m (plus wages)- for a player who played 9 games.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    tamworth wolf

    well said no 2

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  7. 7
    We only need one half!

    Turning into a bit of selling club there, eh boys!

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  8. 8
    spanishray

    I would have thought you should have known the capabilities of “The Hoff” Mick when you bought him.He was never given a chance.Rumour has it that Mick is looking at Emnes from Middlesborough,I would have thought another CB to partner Johnson and a left back would be your priorities.Is this because another couple of players and you know you would not be able to fit your offspring and Henry in.Wise up McCarthy and improve this team,you know its needed.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Golden Wolf

    5- plus the 700k we had to pay for staying up which people forget so thats what 2.5/6m we paid all together.

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  10. 10
    Essex "Roger Johnson" Wolves

    The careful media strategyis working wonders….
    You kind of know now what many had suspected all summer that whatever the 2 M’s say, read the opposite.
    “Definitely in the squad” = “come and sign a Premiership player from us”
    “Every confidence” = “bit suspect”
    “Squad has strength in depth” = “players still needed; about to be signed”
    “I’ve forgiven Danny Murphy” = “1-0 to the dirty boys! 1-0 to the dirty boys!”
    “I’ve challenged him to win back his place” = “Wise up or you can go back to Serbia in December”

    Oh…and congrats to Jamie and Danielle for getting Harry home! :)

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  11. 11
    lee

    WELL DONE 3 M’S.WITH THE MONEY WE HAVE SAVED CAN WE HAVE 2 NEW RIGHT BACKS,1 NEW GOAL KEEPER,4 RIGHT SIDED MIDFIELDER AND 3 NEW LEFT SIDED MIDFIELDER

    LETS BE HONEST WE NOT GOING TO SIGN ANOTHER DEFENDER,LEFT BACK OR DEFENSIVE MIDFEILDER OR EVAN A STRICKER TO REPLACE THE HOFF

    IF MICK REALLY THINKS THIS SQUAD IS BETTER THAN LAST YEAR I WILL HAVE A PINT OF WHAT HES HAD

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Brummierobwolves

    7) Selling club? Unlike you we have no debt and are building a ground that is miles better than yours. We have not just quadrupled a 30 year old’s wages on a 3 year contract either!
    Forget about the losses on the likes of the Hoff and Halford, as we have bought many on the cheap who are worth miles more now eg Jarvis 500k worth 10m now! With the Hoff and Keogh gone this leaves 2 spaces in the 25 squad – a left back and a defensive midfielder and we are a mid-table team!

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Norsk Wolf

    7.

    As long as we keep selling the deadwood that’s not a problem.

    Two left backs would do for me

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Mike Malik

    Only Henry the Crab and “Odd Job” Elokobi to go now.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    The Real Lincoln Wolf

    How many more “off the wage bill” do we need before another player can come in? This will wash, because there nothing any amount of posts can do. Henry may go but no this season, Ward probably here as long as MM is……zzzzzzz

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    Suffolkwolf

    Still need a LB, CB, CM and striker. Going to get??? We’ve done some good business under the radar in recent years but rumours are not rife. What’s the betting that is it for the season. Tomorrow will be a big test.

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  17. 17
    onerobbiedennison

    @number 11 can i have a pint of what your on please ;->

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  18. 18
    jay jay

    gutted for the hoff was really hoping he could show us what he can accually do given a propper chance good look to him i say

    time to dip back in the market now selling him maybe this means a new player or two

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  19. 19
    ashma wolves

    shame he was a good player never got a chance lol he was rubbish a bad buy, we should never of paid that much for him in the 1st place, move on and get a couple defenders asap should be a few pound knockin around now 14 out and 3 in

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  20. 20
    Ashley Johnson

    N replace them with who exactly? Henry n elokobi r gd players for us why do so many idiots come out with stuff like that. But obviously u no better then mccarthy …hhhmmm get real.

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  21. 21
    Andy_Wolves

    Now that Keogh and the Hoff have gone, we have 23 players (that includes Vokes as he no longer qualifies as a ‘youngster’). The problem is, I cant see Mick filling all 25 slots, as that squad of 23 only includes 2 goalkeepers. Forgive me if im wrong, but my understanding was that Ikeme had only gone to ‘Boro on a short loan (either one or three months) and also, that there is a rule whereby if we have an injury crisis and are able to bring a keeper in, then there has to be a space in the squad for him? Therefore, I reckon Mick will only choose a 24 man squad in total, so efectively, we only have one gap to fill…and i get the feeling that it aint gonna be the left back/centre back spots he is targeting….its either centre mid, or bizarrley a striker!

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Maierhofers Men

    NO!

    Im a huge fan of stefan, sure he might not be the best player on the field but he sure is a nice chap. Also we could do with young stefan, he could lead the line well with a little improvement and we are short of strikers.

    Love you stefan x

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    Sir Billy Quiet

    5. Wigmore – You know nothing!

    2. Micks Big Toe – Same old Left Back drivel

    11. Lee – Caps Lock on?

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    B37 Dingle

    21) Very unlikely that Vokes will be in the squad but Ikeme has to be? That leaves 2 spots unless we sell Milijas? He will have a role to play when we revert to a 5 man midfield and while Guedioura is injured he is the only proper cover for O’Hara!

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    Gordon Thursfield

    Hoff looked useful but never really given a chance by Mick. Squad needs defensive midfielder cover for Henry.

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    soggy_wolf

    1. Hennessey
    2. De Vries
    3. Ikeme

    4. Johnson
    5. Craddock
    6. Berra
    7. Stearman
    8. RIDGWELL????
    9. Zubar
    10. Elokobi
    11. Ward
    12. Foley

    13. Henry
    14. Guedioura
    15. Edwards
    16. Milijas
    17. O’Hara
    18. Kightly
    19. Hammill
    20. Hunt
    21. Jarvis

    22. Doyle
    23. Fletcher
    24. Ebanks-Blake
    25. EMNES???

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    The Flying Winger

    Very poor purchase by McCarthy, never felt he would be part of the season, I think we will be lucky to recpoup 1M.

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  28. 28
    StowellsLeftFingertip

    8-Spanish Ray,Emnes can play left back.I’d check facts before reverting to fiction.

    7-Weonlyneedonehalf.exclamation.Wanna buy the Hoff to pair with Odemthingy.?

    Theres a lot of “needy” people in Wolverhampton.Learn some patience man for goodness sake.Ain’t as if Mick don’t know what we need.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    david 1

    Sir Billy Quiet, 1 – No.5 is correct he was a poor purchase just as Greg “Johnson” Halford was. 2 – No.2 is also correct we need a left back glaringly obvious. 3 – Appreciated the caps lock comment haha.

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    Martin Lodge-jones

    Maynard from Brizzle, theres a big rumour in brizzle going round – but i think it would be more than 5 million which would be a waste !!!

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    jonah

    please please please mm sign a left back thats our bigest week spot

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  32. 32
    tony michalak

    To all the moaning muppets who want to berate MM at every opportunity:

    Stefan Maierhofer will leave Wolves & will cost the club maybe 1.5 million, Big Deal!!! Some you win, some you lose… How much did Jarvis cost??? We could sell him for 12 Million tommorow…

    How much money has he made Wolves over the Years??? Thanks to MM, Wolves are finally becoming a Club to be proud of…

    Wolves Football Club no longer need moaning idiot fans…

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  33. 33
    OH NO

    What a joke this is. The hoff is quality and needed in a Wolves shirt. 1 million for a player easily worth 10+ is ridiculous business and we now need to spend big again to replace him. What is going on behind the scenes bewilders me. Come on Wolves make us proud.

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  34. 34
    southbankdan

    Seen the hoff in the acadamy team at airbus he was awful, so to get a millin back is a huge bonus, get in this lad from boro now!

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    JÁCK thé HÁT

    Looks like wolves having to manage with Fletcher, Doyle and Ebanks-Blake, then.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  36. 36
    Albrightondek

    This was slightly unexpected but rather inevitable. He was never going to be a long term member of the first team squad.

    Of the three out of favour stikers (Keogh & Vokes being the other two) he was probably the the best, and as such McCarthy indicated that he would be included in the 25 man squad.
    Keogh has already moved on (albeit on loan), which just leaves Vokes. It would not surprise me if Vokes is not shipped out in the next couple of weeks as well.

    With all the other departures it obviously has reduce the wage bill quite considerably.

    Watch out for 59th hour last minute signings by our Jez!

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    wanderer in eire

    Hoff was not given a chance that is the beginning and ending of the story.
    What he was capable of no one knows,even thos who were involved in the purchase of the player.
    I would like to ask “MM” why does “DOYLE” play even when he as an injury? Yet players like Hoff and Seb dont get a look in.
    Yet Doyle just cant score.
    “MM” I have to question your fairness in regards to some players.I firmly beleive you have some players who are your favourites.Yet some players come in play well and are dropped.Seb came in and did a great job for 3 games last season and ahd scored yet Doyle came straight back IN! Milijias also played well yet was and is always the “scapegoat”.
    Tommorow we could very well be at the top of the table.
    So my message is simple to the players “GO AND GET THEM AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT”.

    Report abuse

  38. 38
    3rd season

    32 tony you are the idiot and the raesons are.
    who would buy jarvis tomorrow for 12 million ? and you seam to think that 1.5 mill is nothing. strange because that might be the difference in us buying better player,s !!

    if all the so called idiots stayed away you and few others could have the ground to your self !! wanting better players in our team is not unreasonable !!

    what is wrong in wanting our team to be inproved !! like any other club. if you pay your money and support your team you want your team to do better and people like you Tony are not living in the real world.

    UTW

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  39. 39
    Brummierobwolves

    35) You have forgot to mention the forward that ran you ragged last season at the Golden Palace… Stephen Ward!
    I do not think the Hoff was good enough and if we recoup £1m it is no big deal. We have had far more success than failures and even Fergie fails in the transfer market eg Djemba Djemba and many goalkeepers. Two spaces and a left back and midfielder will do the job!

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  40. 40
    Old Golds Worth More

    26 Soggy wolf, nice list but I thought Ikeme was on loan at Middlesborough? And who is Emnes? Ridgewell would be a good buy as he can play just about anywhere across the back four. Agree with Albrightondek, as I think Vokes could be on his way out soon on loan somewhere (unless of course MM thinks he will replace the Hof in the 25 man Squad). Beginning to look like we missed a good un in Shane Long as well…..sign

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  41. 41
    Percy the Wolf

    Best of luck to The Hoff and hope it works out better for him. He never got a real chance though IMO. However if we can get £1million ish for someone who has not even played double figures in the Prem then thats pretty good business!!

    With all these departures i am sure we will get in at least 1 more player, whether this Emnes guy OR Bates – both from Boro. Ok Hitzelsperger has gone but Dann is still a possibility.

    3 points tomorrow please please Wolves!

    WE ARE WOLVES!!!

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  42. 42
    We only need one half!

    12) Unlike us? what a mug, everyone knows we are the only club that really has no debt, and we don’t have to rely on sugar daddies to be where we are, we can afford to buy if we need to, we don’t have to ship out players in a mass exodus just to try and get some cash in, we must be doing something right, you’ve spent all summer trying to emulate us!
    Keep banging on about no debt for now, what about the £90 million (plus interest) just over the horizon? don’t forget you’ve got to pay for your much needed, dilapidated, tumble down ground and training area to be replaced, this time round!
    Did you get the best quote by the way? offered it out for tender to several companies have you? looked at several designs? consulted the fans to see if they even wanted a new ground or, better players? chosen the best materials (that will hopefully last longer than the last lego set)? or did Bodge Job Bill the bargain builder just tell you how it was going to be? Nice 90 mill to his Anfield fund, thank you very much.
    You are looking over the abyss, and although some of the more sensible Wulfies are waking up to that fact, you cant even see it, well don’t say you weren’t warned.
    Would you care to enlighten everyone how you know his wages have been quadrupled by the way? I would really like to know, either post on here, or look extremely silly, your choice!

    p.s. in your world, what do you call a club that sells 14 and buys 3, a buying club? how bizarre! just how much dross did you have on your books?

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  43. 43
    We only need a left back

    Left back please, then I think we will be all set.

    Report abuse

  44. 44
    Tomo

    Bit of a shame for Stefan really wanted the guy to do well here as he was something different to what we had in team. But he never got a chance and I think we can say that it wasn’t the best McCarthy signing but not every signing is going to be a gem even Sir Alex Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba once.
    We have to go into the market for me it has to be a left back or at least try Foley there.

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  45. 45
    Roaring Boy

    Everybody talks about a left back this, Centre half that, its a another holding midfilder we need. Henry gets injured or suspended (which he will do) who is going to play there?

    I have feeling not only at our gaff but transfer deadline day will be a real mad one. Best TV of the whole year watching sky sports. Marvin Elliott at Bristol City was a strong target a few years back?

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  46. 46
    Silver Wolf

    I’m just mentally oiling my football rattle (I could have rescued one recently from a car boot sale) and couldn’t help the cynic in me wondering of the £1m receipt will go towards bringing a couple more bluenoses players to Molineux or speed up construction of the Stan Cullis stand.:)
    Whatever, if we can get the better of Fulham this afternoon the Premiership table could have a wondrous appearance by this evening!!
    A hard one to call, Fulham can play more than a little bit, but hope springs eternal, so I’ll go for 1-0.
    Like many others I smelt a rat as big as a cat when Hoff was allegedly in the squad yet at the same moment being actively sought by Salzburg. A bit like ensuring you’re selling a Going Concern – more value in that than selling a failed business.

    Report abuse

  47. 47
    Farmer Ted

    11 Lee. Apart from trying to draw attention to yourself by using capitals I’m not sure what your post is all about.
    The first paragraph makes no sense at all. The second paragraph is what’s been said a thousand times this summer. The window isn’t closed yet and the manager is paid to manage,so it’s his call and he’s done a pretty good job of it so far.
    Your last paragraph needs some explanation. Roger Johnson signed. Jamie O’Hara signed for the full season. Hunt, Kightley and Fletcher fit for the start of the season and a goalkeeper with 25 shut outs in the Championship signed to push Hennessey. No improvement ?
    I think you may have had too many pints already so leave Mick’s bevy alone !

    Report abuse

  48. 48
    rich5wolves

    He was tall, yet too slow. Never looked like the player we need even if he didnt get on the field much. Must have been rubbish in training??

    To all those who say he looked useful…………when? lol he hardly played.

    Report abuse

  49. 49
    Tomwolf

    No 3 spot on, MM only made the comments,making sure it happened sooner rather than later. He was never going to get more than 15mins max time on the pitch, when things were going against us, used as a last throw of the dice. I think we still need to bring in another good striker as most top clubs have 4. Im still pig sick we didnt get Shane Long in, ive been hoping since last January we would sign him. But i except we’ve got 3 top strikers at present, as long as Doyle doesn’t GO? Although i do worry Kevin seems to be picking up a few injuries last season and this one too. I would have been tempted to sell him for a big profit,and bought Long,who’s younger fitter, and a better finisher ”imo” anyway that one is dead n buried. GOOD LUCK TO THE LADS TODAY:

    Report abuse

  50. 50
    Crouch End Wolf

    36: Vokes should not be shipped out, and with luck will not be now that the Hoff is going. Vokes can do the same job better, and he is younger. Anyone who was at Charlton a few seasons ago and saw him get in among the boots, take responsibility – and score goals – knows he has a lot of promise. It’s true he now has to fulfil it.

    Report abuse

  51. 51
    Staffs Wolf

    So another one set for exit and no sign of anyone coming in! At the very least we should be looking to bring in some CB/LB cover on loan. Nedum Onuhoa can play both of these positions has Prem experience and is the right age. Can’t understand for the life of me why we don’t go in for him.

    Report abuse

  52. 52
    bob hazell header

    we only need one half….looks like the boys in blue and white stripes will need more than one half…. lol..you just could’nt make it up…oh well at least northampton might give wwfc some bother or may be not…. utw

    Report abuse

  53. 53
    Will Young

    42. We Only Need One Half (to be 3-0 up against WBA).

    And it feels like jealousy.

    Report abuse

  54. 54
    We only need one half!

    52) You are spot on, you cant make it up, youve had your annual, once a year back to back win (admittedly without our help this time, so well done for that) thanks to the F.A.s “fix”ture list, and all of sudden everything is rosy again? you right, you couldnt make it up.

    53) Will Young (really?) yep keep talking, come see me about February, when I will tell you on here exactly how many points you’ll end up with and whether you will survive or not, like I did last season. Jealous of what exactly? the fact you always finish below us in the Prem, or the fact youve added one player to relegation candidate team? or the fact that unless your keep all 11 fingers and toes crossed you could be bankrupt in the very near future? I dont mind “Playing your game” which is it?

    Report abuse



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