Wolves join Albion in Sammy Ameobi chase

Wolves have joined Albion in chasing Newcastle winger Sammy Ameobi as a potential replacement for Bakary Sako.

Boss Kenny Jackett is resigned to losing his 15-goal top scorer to the Premier League and 23-year-old Ameobi is among several options.

Ameobi is out of contract this summer and sources say he is looking for a move to secure regular first-team football to help his chances of nailing down an international place with Nigeria amid speculation that he has turned down a new deal on Tyneside.

Albion are long-term admirers of the one-club Geordie, who can play on either wing, while Everton are also said to be interested and Burnley are understood to have made him an offer of £14,000-a-week.

But despite the Premier League interest, Wolves are believed to be a serious option as the player has more chance of securing regular first-team football in the Championship.

Ameobi has played 53 League games for Newcastle, but only 21 of those have been starts since making his debut in May 2011.

This season he has featured in 26 games in all competitions, starting 16 times and scoring twice.

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Ameobi's earnings are higher than anyone else at Wolves apart from £25,000-a-week Sako,.

But Wolves are prepared to relax the purse strings this summer following the exit of high earners Roger Johnson, Jamie O'Hara and Kevin Doyle, plus the Mali international if he goes.

Sako has said he will decide his future after playing for Mali in a double-header against Guinea-Bissau on Thursday, June 18 and Thursday July 2.

The 27-year-old winger, who is out of contract next month, has offers from Albion and Villa among a clutch of clubs from the Premier League and abroad.

Meanwhile, Wolves are likely to delay an announcement on the expected release of club captain Sam Ricketts until after the League One play-off final.

The 33-year-old defender, who is also out of contract, helped Swindon to Wembley where they will play Preston on Sunday May 24 (5.30pm) for the remaining place in the Championship.

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Ricketts has made 11 appearances for the Robins and scored the first goal in the first leg of their 2-1 semi-final win against Sheffield United.

Watched by Jackett, he then played the full 90 minutes in the epic second leg at the County Ground, which ended 5-5.