Wolves join race to sign Sharp

Wolves today made an undisclosed bid for Billy Sharp as they formally joined the battle for the Scunthorpe striker's services.

Manager Mick McCarthy responded to yesterday's move by Championship rivals Norwich to open the bidding for Sharp by at least matching the £1.5m offer from the Canaries.

Wolves are staying tight-lipped about their intentions, but sources close to the scramble for Sharp's services confirm that the Molineux club, currently readying itself for new owner Steve Morgan and a £30m cash injection, have made what is likely to be an opening offer to the League One champions.

McCarthy would have loved to have added Sharp to his January hit on Scunthorpe which brought Andy Keogh to Wolves, but a £2m asking price put the 21-year-old beyond his reach.

Now Morgan's takeover has dramatically moved the goalposts for Wolves and made them favourites to win the race for the striker.

Although the Liverpool multi-millionaire has not yet formally taken control, he has approved a transfer policy with McCarthy.

Sheffield Wednesday have had a £1.5m bid rejected as Scunthorpe, facing the loss of the player who drove them to promotion with 32 goals, set up a summer auction.

They have put an improved contract on the table, but their top scorer is in prime position to move on.

Sharp said earlier this week: "I've had enough about all the talk, to be honest, and just want to go away on my holidays.

"I keep hearing this club and that club are interested, but I've not even had a chance to consider my new contract offer from Scunthorpe. It's really flattering to hear clubs are interested, but I'll go away and decide what's going to happen."

Sharp's agent, the former Albion striker Imre Varadi, said today: "It's a very delicate situation."

By MARTIN SWAIN