Wolves hoping to tie up deal for Harry Maguire

Wolves were this afternoon cautiously confident their pursuit of £2m-rated Sheffield United defender Harry Maguire will end in success.

The club is still waiting to see if their latest bid for the central defender has tempted United into selling.

An offer of around £1.5m rising to £2m is still on the table for Maguire as Wolves chase their second summer signing.

Sources claim United are 'preparing the ground' for the 21-year-old's departure and Wolves are believed to be edging closer towards an agreement.

Maguire has a year left on his contract, and, after the player's decision to halt talks on a new contract last week, the feeling is his head has been turned by Wolves' interest and he wants to try his luck in the Championship now, rather than sign fresh terms or wait 12 months.

Wolves are understood to be prepared to pay slightly over the odds for Maguire to smooth the deal in the knowledge United feel shortchanged over the £250,000 sale of Kevin McDonald last August.

The club still have 'in-house' business to tie up with fellow centre-back Richard Stearman believed to be close to signing his new deal after talks over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, Wolves look set to miss out on in-demand Coventry striker Callum Wilson - for the time being at least.

There was speculation earlier today that the 22-year-old hotshot, who has a firm admirer in Molineux head coach Kenny Jackett, could be on his way to join Nottingham Forest.

Forest boss Stuart Pearce said two signings would be unveiled today, which look like being Hull's former Walsall striker Matty Fryatt and £2.5m-rated Dutch striker Lars Veldwijk.

But Wilson is set to stay put at Coventry, unless a club is prepared to pay an inflated price for him.

The Sky Blues are understood to value the 22-year-old at around £3m, which is more than Wolves, who are understood to have enquired about Wilson in January, are prepared to pay.

Bournemouth, who now have heavy financial backing, were reported to have made a seven-figure bid for Wilson at the weekend.

But all the signs are that Wilson is prepared to give Coventry one more season after a spectacular campaign in which he scored 22 goals.