Wolves facing McCarthy war

James McCarthy last night underwent a medical with Wolves as Celtic prepared to launch a late bid to try to land the Hamilton teen sensation.

The 18-year-old midfielder travelled south after Wolves and Hamilton agreed a fee thought to involve a £1.2m fee, but with appearance-based add-ons capable of taking the figure beyond £2m.

Wolves will be wary of celebrating too soon as yet again their move for the player has flushed out plenty of rival interest.

Reports from Scotland claim Premier League rivals Wigan have also met Hamilton's asking price and are waiting to make their pitch for the coveted young midfielder.

But now there are also claims that Celtic, the team McCarthy supported as a youngster, are ready to make one last attempt to persuade the Irish Under-21 international to sign.

Just how serious the Parkhead are is a matter of conjecture. They pulled out of the bidding at £600,000 some time ago - and that was already three times more than they wanted to pay for McCarthy.

The limitations of the Celtic transfer budget are well known, but sources close to the player believe Tony Mowbray is ready to match the valuation and will make a last-minute attempt.

Wigan, Burnley, Portsmouth and an unnamed top-eight Premier League club are also all vying for McCarthy's signature. Wolves have now made the first move but the bidding war could last several days.

The player was in talks with Molineux officials today, accompanied by his mother and agent Willie McKay, but Wolves stress that the competition for the youngster's signature is now so fierce nothing can be taken for granted.

Said chief executive Jez Moxey: "We are trying to handle this as sensitively as we can. James is a young lad, just 18 years old, a long way from home and having to cope with all this interest in him. We are showing him around and showing him what we are all about."