Wolves for talks on Lafferty

Wolves will find out next week if Mick McCarthy's long pursuit of top target Kyle Lafferty has been successful.

Lafferty's agent Gordon Armstrong has confirmed Wolves will go head-to-head with Celtic for the 20-year-old forward's services providing they can strike a deal with Burnley.

Wolves have held the baton on negotiations with the Turf Moor club and have tried to tempt them with cash plus players - a cheque for £2.5m plus their own striker Stephen Elliott and midfielder Darren Potter, both surplus to requirements at Molineux.

Just what Celtic are offering in response to that is not clear but there is talk that the Glasgow giants will sweeten the deal with the offer of a friendly - something Wolves were promised, but was never delivered on, when Henri Camara moved to Parkhead.

But there should at least be some movement at last for Wolves, who are in a hurry to get their business done before the start of pre-season training.

And Lafferty's signing is the keynote deal for McCarthy, having been on Burnley's case both last summer and in January in an effort to land the player.

The Northern Ireland international striker has revealed his desire to leave Turf Moor and although the field of pursuers was even more congested last week with Rangers also in the chase, their signing of Kenny Miller yesterday appears to have seen them back off on Lafferty.