Mick at Sharp end of market
Wolves will be forced to revise their summer transfer plans after Steve Morgan's £30million takeover – as Mick McCarthy's increased financial clout sees him shopping in the same market as the relegated Premiership trio.
Molineux sources have revealed to the Express & Star that Mick McCarthy's transfer blueprint will be modified in the next fortnight, but I understand the manager has already ruled out signing anyone who does not fit in with the 'new Wolves' philosophy that served them so well last season.
The "substantial" investment will now see Wolves rivalling Charlton, Watford and the Bryan Robson-led Sheffield United for the best Football League prospects – and even casting a glance at the Premiership's most promising youngsters.
The extra money will help Wolves in their hunt for long-standing Molineux targets Chelsea's Scott Sinclair and Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson but is highly unlikely to bring a Robbie Fowler-type on mega bucks.
Instead expect Wolves to follow the successful blueprint mapped out by Steve Bruce at Birmingham last season, where promising starlets like Fabrice Moumba and Niclas Bendtner were snapped up to supplement an already strong squad.
And most of all – don't anticipate a throwback to the days of ex-England internationals with little to prove turning up at Molineux.
The success of many of McCarthy's signings has been their ability to fit in with the "young and hungry" ethos that has been on the lips of Wolves supporters this season – and the manager is desperate to preserve that.
The ethos requires plenty of in-depth homework on the part of the Molineux scouts, covering everything from his strengths and weaknesses on-the-field to his foibles off it. So far that has reaped handsome dividends at Wolves, and forged a strong bond between the players.
McCarthy's first priority will be to find out how much money he has to spend.
Morgan will speak to manager Mick McCarthy and his scouting team in the next ten days as planning gets underway for a pivotal campaign next year. The widely-quoted £30million figure that Sir Jack has secured for the club will not be solely available for transfers – although a large proportion is likely to be put McCarthy's way.
The takeover has not changed the areas that need to be strengthened.
McCarthy will be hunting for two strikers – a targetman type and that elusive 20-goal a season man – as well as a centre-back and a left-back this summer.
A pacey defender is understood to be Wolves' priority, but it is up front where Morgan's millions may be spent.
Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp is the dream ticket for most Wolves fans keen to see him re-united with striker Andy Keogh – but until yesterday the Molineux men believed the £3million-rated forward was out of their price range. Interest is sure to re-ignited, and the groundwork at Glanford Park has already been done.
Southend's highly-rated Freddie Eastwood was always likely to be a target in the summer, and yesterday's financial boost will increase the chances of him being at Molineux in the summer.
Wolves were in the running to sign Colchester forward Chris Iwulemo – but the rangey hitman opted to stay in the South and signed for Charlton yesterday.
McCarthy may now revise his plans at left-back. Plymouth's Midlands-based Tony Capaldi is keen to move to Molineux, but the Wolves boss may now set his sights higher.
By Mark Douglas