Wolves in Kevin Doyle speculation

Wolves today insisted it was business as usual after being irritated by speculation that Arsenal are to bid for Kevin Doyle.

A tabloid report yesterday claimed the Gunners are lining up a £12m offer for the 27-year-old striker.

Doyle, who cost £6.5m from Reading two years ago, knows Wolves would never stand in his way if one of the big four came calling, providing the fee was right. But the club have not received any contact from the Emirates club and they will not welcome it.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to have confirmed an offer will be made for the Ireland international. But any approach will receive short shrift at Molineux.

Wolves are considering offering Doyle, who is halfway through a four-year contract, a lucrative new deal. Arsenal's interest has been evident since Doyle's days at Reading, but they have not yet moved in with a bid.

Wenger doesn't usually wax lyrical about opposition players, but he made an exception when analysing Ireland's infamous World Cup play-off defeat to France in November 2009.

"He's an intelligent player – I like him personally," said Wenger. "Against France, he gave us a lot to deal with.

"He's a typical, intelligent striker, but hasn't one single quality which makes you think, 'he's quick, he's tricky'. But all he does makes sense.

"He's good everywhere. When we played Reading, their manager Steve Coppell told me he's a good player. I've followed him since then and I think he was right!"

By TIM NASH