Spurs ace Woodgate turns down Wolves loan

Jonathan Woodgate has turned down a loan move to Molineux as Wolves step up their search for a defender.

Their attentions are now expected to turn back to Stoke's Abdoulaye Faye, who theyasked about at the start of the month.

Manager Mick McCarthy is understood to have met Tottenham centre-back Woodgate for talks this week with a view to a loan move for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old England international, who earns around £65,000-a-week, has been made available for a temporary move by Spurs after recovering from a career-threatening groin complaint.

But the former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid stopper declined the offer, leaving McCarthy to pursue other options before the transfer window shuts at 11pm on Monday.

Instead, Woodgate, who joined Spurs from Middlesbrough for £8m three years ago, wants to force his way back into Harry Redknapp's plans after being omitted from his original 25-man squad.

McCarthy recently spoke to Steve McClaren, who restored Woodgate to the England team in 2007, with the defender one of the topics of conversation.

The Wolves boss could now turn his attentions back to Faye, who he enquired about with fellow Stoke man Glenn Whelan when the transfer window opened.

Ironically Senegal international Faye, 32, who is also out of contract in June, could be trying to impress new employers on Sunday at Molineux after being pencilled in to play in the FA Cup fourth round tie.

Faye was stripped of the captaincy at the start of the season and dropped down the order behind Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth after his form dipped.

By Tim Nash