Roger Johnson tops the list of players Wolves want to sign after securing a third season of Premier League football.

Wolves have wasted no time after clinching survival in plotting next season’s Premier League assault and manager Mick McCarthy has been told he can bring in two centre-halves, a left-back and a central midfielder, which could see captain Karl Henry join promoted QPR.

Midfielder Henry is said to be among the top targets of Rangers boss Neil Warnock as he bids to strengthen the Championship winners on their top-flight return.

And McCarthy wants a powerful six-footer to replace the skipper.

Birmingham central defender Johnson was on McCarthy’s hit-list two years ago but the club would not sanction the £5m transfer fee at the time.

This time, however, he has been given the green light to pursue the former Cardiff and Wycombe defender, who has been a rock at the heart of Blues’ defence.

But Wolves will face stiff competition to land the 28-year-old, who was an ever-present in Blues’ relegation season.

Improve

Henry has been one of McCarthy’s best signings since arriving for a bargain £100,000 from Stoke five years ago. He captained Wolves to promotion two years ago and has amassed nearly 200 appearances.

But sources say he has been targeted by the Premier League new-boys and McCarthy is on the hunt for a replacement to add bite to Wolves’ midfield.

McCarthy vowed to build on the achievement of staying up. “We can build on this as a club now it’s a great result for us to stay up,” said the boss.

Chief executive Jez Moxey hinted plans were already underway to improve the squad.

“Absolutely. We were never really that concerned about the playing squad it was more about trying to get the players to do what they needed to do to stay in the Premier League,” said Moxey.

“But we had always made preparations for a third season in the Premier League. We didn’t want to be over-confident, but we thought it was crazy to do too much work on an alternative scenario.

“A lot of people said we’d already made plans, but we didn’t do that because we’re in good financial shape – the club posted good results recently and we just thought ‘let’s concentrate on the Premier League and let’s not jinx anything’.”

By TIM NASH