Wolves set sights on Bolton's Sam Ricketts

Wolves have Bolton full-back Sam Ricketts in their sights and he could be head coach Kenny Jackett's first signing.

Sources close to the Reebok Stadium club reckon 31-year-old Wales international Ricketts, who was one of Jackett's first signings while Swansea manager, is in talks with Wolves.

It's not known whether there will be a fee involved for the versatile defender, who has a year left on his contract.

But he is unlikely to cost more than £250,000 at a time when Wolves have admitted they need to create space in the squad before signing players.

Ricketts' days at Bolton appear to be numbered as boss Dougie Freedman has signed two senior full-backs this summer.

Dean Saunders' January target Alex Baptiste from Blackpool and Norwich's Marc Tierney have arrived, while Freedman also has a young prospect in Hayden White.

But Ricketts, who can play right-back or left-back and has made 114 appearances for Bolton since signing from Hull for £2.2million in 2009, will find a welcome and familiar face in Jackett.

The Wolves head coach gave the Aylesbury-born defender his Football League break in May 2004 when he snapped him up for Swansea on a free transfer from Telford United.

He made 51 appearances for the Bucks in 2003-04 after starting his career with Oxford before being loaned to Nuneaton.

As well as the speculation surrounding Ricketts, Wolves have also been linked with a shock swoop for nemesis Kevin Phillips as player-coach.

A report yesterday claimed Jackett was looking to bring in the veteran former West Brom, Villa and Birmingham striker, who turns 40 next month.

Phillips, who lives near Lichfield, has been offered a year's contract by Premier League new-boys Crystal Palace.

But Jackett, who coached Phillips at Watford, held talks with his backroom staff last Thursday and hinted at no imminent changes.

Meanwhile, striker Kevin Doyle will not be joining Leeds.