Wolves target Manchester United's Jonny Evans

Wolves are eyeing Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans as an alternative to their top defensive targets.

The club have so far been frustrated in their efforts to land Roger Johnson and Matt Mills and are considering moving for a familiar face to Molineux scouts.

Boss Mick McCarthy wanted to recruit Evans more than two years ago, before Wolves were promoted, but the Northern Ireland international enjoyed two separate loan spells at Sunderland instead, helping Roy Keane's side to the Championship title in 2006-07 and then gaining Premier League experience the season after.

But Wolves have kept a close eye on the 24-year-old and McCarthy would relish the chance of signing Evans.

Evans, who has been United's back-up with Chris Smalling in the absence of Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic, has seen his chances of regular football take a dip with the £20m arrival of Phil Jones this summer.

The six foot-plus stopper only signed a four-year contract at Old Trafford just over a year ago and it would appear Wolves' best chance of bringing him to Molineux would be on loan.

United are willing to offload two experienced versatile stoppers in Wes Brown and John O'Shea and Sunderland have been heavily linked with the pair.