Express & Star

Sam Ricketts urges Harry Maguire to choose Wolves over Hull City

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Captain Sam Ricketts today urged Wolves target Harry Maguire to join the Molineux revolution.

Wolves are currently playing a cagey game of sitting tight in the hope that the 21-year-old Sheffield United defender decides to opt to throw his lot in with them in the Championship.

Hull City have indicated they are prepared to match Wolves' current valuation of around £1.5m, which has been rejected by the Blades.

But Ricketts, who won promotion to the Premier League with Hull, is convinced Maguire's development would be better served by choosing Wolves because he would have a chance of regular football, something he would be highly unlikely to get next season at the KC Stadium.

"He will have more of a chance of playing every week here whereas if he went to Hull, he might get the odd Europa League game and that could potentially stunt his growth as a player," said Ricketts.

"If he came to Wolves, he could grow as a player and establish himself as part of a successful team.

"But if you're not developing as a player, is it really worth going there?

"That will be down to him and if he goes there, it's a case of does he want to push his own career or take a gamble?

"You can go back to what Nigel Clough says and he thinks he would be better off staying at Sheffield United.

"But if he is going to go anywhere then why not Wolves?"

Ricketts has backed Wolves' prolonged chase for the highly-rated centre-back, who has been United's player of the year three seasons running and been in the League One team of the year for the same period.

"He's a player who there has been a lot of hype surrounding him," said the skipper.

"He's young and got a good stature and it looks like he's got a good attitude so he will only improve and get better.

"So if we sign him, hopefully he will be a good addition.

"He's been their player of the year three seasons running and has been in the League One team of the year so there must be something about him."

Meanwhile, freed Wolves defender Michael Ihiekwe has signed a two-year deal at Tranmere.

The 21-year-old academy graduate was released in May without making a first-team appearance at Molineux but ended the campaign on loan at League Two Cheltenham, where he played 13 games.