Wolves to rival Blues for Dann
Wolves are poised to pip Birmingham to the £3.5million signing of Coventry defender Scott Dann.
The Molineux club have hijacked the deal their fellow Premier League newcomers were hoping to clinch this week, with the former Walsall player now being tipped to come to Wolves instead.
Dann, who was born on Merseyside but cut his teeth as a teenager with the Saddlers, was all set for a summer switch to St Andrew's after Blues finally agreed a deal in the region of £3.5million with their Championship neighbours.
But Wolves have stepped in at the last minute to match the offer – and sources close to the looming transfer confirm it is the Molineux club who are now favourites to nab the England Under-21 international.
That source said: "A fee has been agreed and it's a straight fight between Wolves and Birmingham.
"But the player's own preference is Wolves and they are favourites."
Dann has long been regarded as one of the coming talents within the ranks of young English defenders and has matured quickly at Coventry, in his one-and-a-half seasons there since being sold by Walsall in January 2007.
He captained the club last season and broke into the under-21 squad, but has not made the final cut for the European Championships which begin next week.
Whether or not he is a priority signing for Wolves remains to be seen, as he does not fit the end-of-season profile of recruits drawn up by a Molineux hierarchy, who were concentrating their search on experienced players with Premier League course and distance behind them.
But he does fit easily into the 'young and hungry' brigade which has dominated Wolves' recruitment policy for the past three seasons.
His potential sale from Coventry is also likely to earn the Saddlers extra cash.
The details of his sale were kept under wraps at the time, but it is thought it included a sell-on clause.
A move for Dann comes at a time when Wolves' transfer plans are beginning to move up from simmering to boiling point.
They are also working around the clock in their efforts to make Red Star Belgrade captain Nenad Milijas their first signing.
The Serbia international is expected to head for talks and a visit to Molineux over the weekend.
And there are increasing signs that manager Mick McCarthy has decided Reading's American keeper Marcus Hahnemann is the man to provide experience in his goalkeeping department.
The 36-year-old free agent is tipped to join next week.
