Michael Kightly in £3m move to Stoke

Wolves winger Michael Kightly was today closing in on a return to the Premier League with a £3m move to Stoke.

Kightly was due to report for his final training session as a Wolves player today before tying up loose ends on the deal for him to undergo a medical tomorrow.

A fee believed to be £1.5m up front with a further £1m payable after 12 months and the rest in guaranteed add-ons was agreed with the Potteries club over the weekend.

But it is understood there are small matters to be tied up between the player, who cost Wolves £25,000 from Grays in January 2007, and Stoke before the clubs announce the deal as completed.

It is believed Wolves rejected a straight cash offer of £2m, but a compromise has been agreed where they receive more money over a longer period.

The departure of one of the club's most exciting players is bound to lead to an angry reaction from fans, who have watched Wolves stand by the former England Under-21 international through two years of injury torment before regaining fitness and form in the second half of last season.

But with Kightly into the final year on his contract and seeking Premier League football now, Wolves felt they had no alternative but to cash in now on the 26-year-old wideman, who scored 22 goals in 127 appearances at Molineux.

The exit of Kightly will take the number of departures under boss Stale Solbakken to four after Adlene Guedioura, Sam Vokes and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing left on a permanent basis and Leigh Griffiths was loaned to Hibernian until January, while Christophe Berra and Adam Hammill are available for transfer.

But behind the scenes Wolves are planning to bring in a swift replacement for Kightly, who could make his debut for Tony Pulis' side in their friendly at Yeovil tomorrow evening.

As Kightly prepared to say his goodbyes, Wolves are braced for a £12m offer from Sunderland for striuker Steven Fletcher.

Wolves rejected the Black Cats' £10m bid a week ago but it's understood there is ongoing dialogue with a view to finding a deal to suit all.

And Sunderland are believed to be preparing a final, take-it-or-leave-it offer for the 25-year-old.

Solbakken left Saturday's 2-0 friendly defeat at Southampton five minutes early to scout another game.

See also:

• Wolves: No deal on sale of Steven Fletcher

• Wolves beat AFC Telford 2-0 in pre-season friendly

• Christophe Berra on Wolves transfer list