McLean will cost Wolves £5m

Barry Fry has told Wolves they will have to cough up a cool £5m for transfer target Aaron McLean.

In a phone call to the Express & Star, the Peterborough director of football said McLean can go – if Wolves pay £3m now and £2m when they win promotion to the Premier League, plus a sell-on.

Sources had suggested Wolves may prise the 25-year-old away for £1.75m.

The former Birmingham boss admits McLean wants to leave, and Wolves is his preferred destination.

But Fry is adamant the player won't be leaving Posh for anything less than £5m.

"I've told Mick McCarthy twice and Jez Moxey at the chairmen's meeting last week the price is £5m – £3m straight away plus a sell-on and £2m when you get to the Premier League, because if you get Aaron, that's where he'll take you," said Fry.

"Mick says there's no way we'll get that, but that's the price. It doesn't matter that his best mate is Michael Kightly or he wants to play for Wolves, that's the price.

"We've had two bids from Wolves of £1m and £1.5m and turned them both down.

"I've heard they are preparing a third offer but we haven't heard anything.

"Steve Morgan has put £30m into the club – well then spend it, take a gamble."

McLean may now feel forced into submitting a transfer request to try to persuade Peterborough to sell at a more reasonable price.

Watford and Sheffield United are also interested, but Fry claims the London Road club have already received higher bids.

"There's been interest from six other clubs, and we've had higher bids than Wolves have offered," he added.

"We understand he wants to go, but he won't go for anything less than we've said. If Wolves want him, they have to pay the money.

"My chairman bought him to get us to the Championship.

"Aaron's a prolific goalscorer and if he gets us into the Championship, he'll be worth £7m, £8m, £9m."