Jarvis and Feltcher not for sale, says McCarthy

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today admitted missing out on £3.5m West Ham-bound Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell - as he insisted Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher are not for sale.

The 28-year-old midfielder agreed to join Wolves when the transfer window opens only to do a U-turn because his family home is 30 minutes from Upton Park, where he could make his Hammers debut against McCarthy's side on New Year's Day.

"I thought he was coming to us," said McCarthy. "We'd got a deal agreed with Villa and West Ham came in. He's got a house half an hour from there apparently.

"He's been travelling away for a long time and can now spend six months with his wife and kids and travel to work from home every day."

Sidwell had spoken to former Reading team-mates Marcus Hahnemann, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle about the move.

"With Villa's permission I'd spoken to him and he'd spoken to Marcus, Hunt and Doyle and wanted to come," said McCarthy. "And he would have come, no question.

"But then West Ham 'kyboshed' that.

"I'm disappointed because he's an experienced player and would have been good for us, but he lives 30 minutes from there."

News of Wolves' pursuit of Sidwell confirms Wolves are seeking a combative central midfielder as well as a centre-back, left-back and striker next month.

Reports say Wolves were blocked from taking Joleon Lescott on loan because Manchester City will only sell, while Middlesbrough's David Wheater looks set to join Villa.

But sources say a return for Lescott has never been on the cards because he's left-sided and earns £90,000 a week.

Meanwhile, McCarthy scotched talk that he might sell Jarvis, who has been linked with both Liverpool and Everton.

By TIMNASH