Express & Star

Wolves chase for new striker takes a twist

Wolves look set to play a waiting game as their chase for another striker continues to provide new twists.

Published

Sources insist Coventry's 18-goal top scorer Leon Clarke is their number one choice to join Nouha Dicko up front and that Wolves have lodged a bid for the 28-year-old.

That offer – believed to be around the £300,000 Wolves sold him for to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2007 – is nowhere near the £1m price set by the Sky Blues.

Wolves' interest has been confirmed by Coventry manager Steven Pressley – despite a firm denial of any approach from Molineux head coach Kenny Jackett - and arrived just hours after Clarke submitted a transfer request on Monday morning.

"There's been interest from Wolverhampton but I can assure our supporters we will not sell the player unless the deal is correct for this club," said Pressley.

The football grapevine is awash with talk that Wolves' apparent reluctance to pay Championship wages is hampering their search at that end of the market as chief executive Jez Moxey tries to broker the best deals for the club.

But Clarke's relatively cheaper salary makes him a more attractive option.

Pressley expects Clarke to return to contention for Saturday's trip to Preston after missing Sunday's 2-2 draw against Crawley with a groin strain.

Wolves have lodged an interest in Clarke's 15-goal strike partner Callum Wilson.

But that has been put on hold with the 21-year-old now out for eight weeks with a shoulder injury.

Leicester's out-of-favour forward Martyn Waghorn is the subject of renewed interest from Wolves which first surfaced last January, plus attacking midfielders Callum McGregor and Alex Pritchard.

Leicester's signing of one-time Wolves target Kevin Phillips until the end of the season opens up a space for Waghorn to depart.

Wolves face competition from Blackburn, Millwall and Doncaster for one-time £3m Foxes signing Waghorn, who would cost around £450,000.

But with Waghorn turning 24 a week today and out of contract in June when he could leave for nothing, Wolves may decide to hold off.

Wolves have also had two strikers on trial this week.

They have looked at Abdoul Camara, 23, from Sochaux, and Liverpool's 21-year-old six-footer Villyan Bijev, who scored in the 4-1 friendly win over a Nike Academy on Tuesday.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.