Wolves are closing in on a deadline day move for Colchester United left-back George Elokobi.

The Cameroon defender’s advisors have been in talks with Wolves over a transfer and boss Mick McCarthy is keen to tie up the deal before the midnight deadline.

The Elokobi camp are confident the move will be finalised before the end of the day – with Wolves looking to strike a deal worth in the region of £500,000 with possible add-ons for appearances.

The defender, who turned 22 today, has made 19 starts for the U’s this season, but has fallen out of favour after asking for a transfer from Layer Road earlier this campaign.

The youngster played eight times last season, but made an explosive start to this campaign and attracted interest from Premiership Reading as well as Wolves.

The teenage defender joined Colchester from non-League Dulwich Hamlet in the summer of 2004 after arriving from Cameroon and made an immediate impact in League football.

The left-back slot has proved a troublesome one to fill this season, with McCarthy trying out Neill Collins and Michael Gray in that role.

But with Collins out with a twisted ankle and the Wolves boss choosing to use Gray sparingly, he needs a permanent replacement.

McCarthy has also toyed with a move for SK Brann’s Norweigan international Erlend Hansveit – and checked out Walsall’s young defender Daniel Fox – before opting to go for Elokobi.

Wolves new boy Kevin Kyle today set his sights on a Premiership return – and bagging a permanent Molineux deal.

Boss Mick McCarthy has already told the former Scottish international that he will earn a move if he makes a big impact during his four-month loan deal.