Wolves have been told they must up their bid if they want to sign Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham.Sunderland boss Roy Keane today confirmed that he had rejected an offer of around £1.25m received from an unidentified club last week.

Despite reports of rival interest from one of Higginbotham’s former clubs, Stoke, it is largely thought that the opening gambit came from Molineux to signal the start of a transfer pursuit that is sure to gain momentum before the transfer window closes.

Keane today declined to name the club but said the bid was way short of the value on Higginbotham’s head, a player who cost £2.5m a year ago.

He said: “We had a bid for Danny which we turned down last week. We paid good money for him and since then he has played more than 20 Premier League games.

“Anyone who thinks his value has halved since we bought him, has another think coming.

“He has done very well for us in pre-season, has looked good in training in the first few weeks of this season and he’s a good squad player.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed he is in the market for two more signings before the deadline arrives and having lost Jody Craddock and now George Elokobi is sure to be even keener on Higginbotham, a defender who can handle both their positions.

McCarthy still has players on the transfer-list although two of them, Stephen Elliott and Darren Potter, are in the squad on duty against Rotherham in the Carling Cup tonight with the promise from the manager that they will not be frozen out if no deal emerges.

“If the window comes and goes without a move for them, then they will be involved in the squad,” pledged McCarthy.

“They will be Wolves players and if they are needed they will be included.

“But I would also like to bring some players in before the window closes. We’ve got a really good squad of players, not a massive amount but 18 to 20 good outfield players.”