Wolves off scent as Hunt bid cools

Wolves were today resigned to missing out on winger Stephen Hunt after Hull rejected their final bid of £5m.

A further approach was made today after a fifth offer of more than £4m was rejected over the weekend.

Molineux top brass now believe a deal for the Irish international is all but dead as the hours ticked by to today's 5pm deadline.

Wolves, however, still have hopes of completing one or possibly two other deals - including a loan swoop for an unnamed striker - but those too faced complications.

The club have no interest in Everton striker James Vaughan, who was reported today to be the subject of an enquiry from Molineux.

Hull today confirmed they had received a £5m bid for Hunt which had been rejected.

Boss Mick McCarthy today appears resigned to no more signings.

"We've offered to pay over the odds on three or four players - maybe even more - but it's just not going to happen," he said.

"We've been prepared to bid more than others on some but clubs just do not want to sell. There has to be a cut-off point.

"I guess there are irons in the fire, but people would have to change their minds.

"We've had bids in for lots of players but I'm not going to discuss who.

"We've had contingency plans - it's been a case of 'can we do something else?' but they've all been batted back.

"We've tried our absolute damnedest but it becomes a question of 'can they improve on what we've got?' and if they can't, there's no point in doing it.

"We have actively gone way over the valuation but clubs either don't want to sell or the player doesn't want to come."

A story in the north east claimed Sunderland have offered Wolves defender Nyron Nosworthy.

But a centre-half is not a priority, while Nosworthy's £20,000 a week wages would be higher than almost all of the squad.

Winger Geoffrey Mujangi will make his first start in tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round replay at Crystal Palace after Matt Jarvis picked up a knock.

But Jarvis will be fit for Sunday's trip to Birmingham.