Wolves are expected to unveil £2.5m-rated centre-back Steven Mouyokolo from Hull as their next signing.

The 6ft 3ins defender has chosen Wolves ahead of Stoke and sources say a deal is done for the 23-year-old to sign a long-term contract at Molineux.

Mouyokolo, who has been on Wolves’ radar for many months, will become manager Mick McCarthy’s third big summer signing after £2.5m Jelle van Damme and £7m Steven Fletcher, and his fifth with the permanent capture of Adlene Guedioura and loan extension of Geoffrey Mujangi Bia.

Described as quick, a good tackler and a danger at set-pieces – he scored against champions Chelsea in February – Mouyokolo is said to have all the attributes to be a Premier League regular in years to come.

But despite playing 21 times for the Tigers last season he is not yet the finished article.

Snaffling

Wolves, however, see him as another ‘young and hungry’ one for the future, and with Jody Craddock turning 35 next month, Mouyokolo could be the long-term answer.

McCarthy said last month he had targeted the relegated clubs for his four or five new signings, and after snaffling Fletcher from Burnley and missing out on Aruna Dindane who had been on loan at Portsmouth, Mouyokolo is seen as another “best of the rest”.

Born in France, Mouyokolo joined Hull after helping US Boulogne to promotion to French Ligue 1 for the first time.

The season after, he helped his side to second in the table by December, attracting Wigan, Bolton, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Arsenal.

Wolves are still expecting to raid Hull again for £3m-rated winger Stephen Hunt.

They are confident the price will have plunged dramatically from the £5m they ended up bidding for the player in January over the next couple of months.

By Tim Nash