Jelle van Damme keen for Wolves transfer

Jelle van Damme has revealed he still hopes to complete his move to Wolves despite Anderlecht haggling over the fee.

The 26-year-old utility man has agreed a four-year deal at Molineux but the clubs are stalling over the £2.5m payment.

The Belgian champions want the full amount for themselves but Southampton are due 10-15 per cent under the terms of his sale four years ago.

"We are still negotiating the transfer fee," said van Damme.

"Wolverhampton have to pay 3m euros for a player who is out of contract next season. That's a lot of money.

"Anderlecht still hope to arrange something financially with Southampton for the transfer to go through now.

"But I cannot imagine anything can stop the transfer.

"If they do not (agree a fee), then I stay another year at Anderlecht and I can go next season for free."

Meanwhile, Wolves were today urged to complete the signing because van Damme could be worth £15m next year, according to the man who first brought him to England.

Former England World Cup left-back Terry Cooper, who discovered van Damme playing for Belgium age group sides in 2004 when he was European scout for Southampton, believes the 6ft 4ins player will be a real asset for Wolves.

"Wolves are a big club but Mick McCarthy can't pay £10m for a left-back, and if he does well there, another club might come along and sign him for £10m-£15m," said Cooper.

Wolves could be involved in a tug o' war with Wigan for the second summer in a row over £2.5m-rated Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper.

The Iron chairman Steve Wharton revealed several bids have been tabled for the 22-year-old.