Sunderland in £10 million bid for Steven Fletcher
Wolves were today considering a £10m bid for Steven Fletcher from Sunderland – as Aston Villa prepared to make their pitch for the striker.
Wolves were today considering a £10m bid for Steven Fletcher from Sunderland – as Aston Villa prepared to make their pitch for the striker.
The club are also understood to have turned down modest offers for wingers Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly from un-named sides, while keeper Dorus De Vries is the subject of interest from Liverpool.
Club sources say the Black Cats made the approach for Fletcher at the end of last week.
But news of Sunderland's bid quickly met with a hands-off response from chief executive Jez Moxey.
"We're not getting drawn on offers for players in or out," said Moxey when asked about the bid.
"Our best players are not for sale; we want to keep them and build the strongest possible team for the season ahead.
"We will do everything we can to retain the players we want to keep and continue to look to strengthen with new signings."
Sunderland have long been interested in Fletcher with boss Martin O'Neill seeking fresh firepower following the departures of Asamoah Gyan and Nicolas Bendtner.
They have now firmed up their interest with the first serious offer for the 25-year-old striker, who has also attracted interest from Stoke and Fulham.
But Villa are also understood to have made contact with Wolves as boss Paul Lambert looks to strengthen his strike force after the exit of Emile Heskey and with injury doubts over Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor.
It remains to be seen whether Wolves will be tempted by the bid from Wearside, however, especially as Fletcher's former club Burnley are due 15 per cent of any profit on his £7m transfer to Molineux.
That would mean the Clarets would be due £450,000 on a £10m sale, leaving Wolves with £2.55m profit.
Fletcher missed Saturday's 3-0 friendly win against Walsall with a minor ankle injury suffered in training last week.
Stoke are interested in Kightly and Jarvis, who is also wanted by Fulham.
Wolves won't allow De Vries to leave without another experienced replacement for Wayne Hennessey, who is out until October.
