Wolves want Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing on a season-long loan to complete their summer strengthening.

Boss Mick McCarthy has identified the pint-sized 22-year-old as the man to add bite to his central midfield.

England Under-21 international Spearing has recently signed an extension to his contract and made 20 senior appearances for the Reds coming last season.

That included a series of highly impressive performances alongside Lucas towards the end of last term when he kept £4m buy Christian Poulsen out of the team and Steven Gerrard was injured.

But he will find it harder to keep his place this time with a logjam of midfielders.

Dalglish has since signed Charlie Adam for £9m and £20m Jordan Henderson – who can play centre midfield – while Gerrard is approaching full fitness and the Reds have taken Alberto Aquilani back after his loan at Juventus expired.

Liverpool see a loan for Spearing as the best way to continue his development and they are likely to agree to him moving to Molineux.

McCarthy wants someone to share the ball-winning role with captain Karl Henry and, despite being only 5ft 6ins tall, one of Spearing’s main attributes is breaking up the play.

And it could be a double loan swoop, with Wolves also keen on another young un-named Liverpool player. McCarthy watched 20-year-old centre-back Daniel Ayala on loan at Derby last season.

I understand Wolves still need to offload first before anyone is allowed to come.

By TIM NASH