Wolves drop pursuit of Wheater but target Michael Brown

Wolves today revealed they pulled out of the chase for £2.5m Middlesbrough defender David Wheater - but admitted Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown is on their radar.

Wheater is set to join Bolton imminently as a possible replacement for £15m-rated Gary Cahill, who is expected to leave the Reebok.

Wolves were one of several clubs interested in Wheater who is out of contract in the summer — with Villa, Stoke and Everton.

But the Molineux hierachy are unconvinced of the value for money of the player and whether he is better than what they have.

"I think you'll probably find he'll end up at Bolton and that will be great business for them," said boss Mick McCarthy.

Centre-backs Jody Craddock and Steven Mouyokolo the latter who is the same age as Wheater, 23 — played 65 and 45 minutes respectively of yesterday's behind closed doors friendly against Leicester yesterday, which Wolves won 1-0.

"Jody and Steven played yesterday so I've got those two, Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra, so I'm not in desperate need of a centre-back," added McCarthy.

As for Brown, who turns 34 later this month, McCarthy admitted he is under consideration as he looks again after missing out on Steve Sidwell, who slipped his grasp to join Fulham.

The former Manchester City, Tottenham, Fulham and Wigan midfielder, who played against Wolves in the 2003 play-off final for Sheffield United, has a clause in his reported £34,000-a-week contract triggering another year at Pompey if he plays one more game.

But Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill said they can't afford to pay it.

Asked about the clause in Brown's contract, McCarthy said: "I'm aware of that."

By TIM NASH