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Post by Wolvensam on May 30, 2008 14:54:35 GMT
Burnley's Kyle Lafferty has signalled his intention to secure a summer transfer to Championship rivals Wolves.
The Northern Ireland international has told the Clarets that he is actively seeking a move away from Turf Moor, and has now made it clear that Molineux is his preferred destination.
Mick McCarthy is believed to have already entered into negotiations with Burnley concerning a potential switch, although Owen Coyle is demanding around £4million for the striker's services.
Wolves are understood to favour a player-plus-cash deal, but Lafferty is hopeful that a compromise can be reached.
"They are a huge club who are always fighting for a play-off place or automatic promotion rather than struggling in the bottom half of the Championship," he told the Express and Star.
"It has always been an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League and I feel that if I moved to Wolves I would have an excellent chance of reaching what many believe is the greatest league in the world.
"I understand Wolves and Rangers want to sign me - I would be thrilled to move to either club. Celtic are also interested but I don't think that's ever going to materialise.
"I understand it will be the club who agrees the best deal with Burnley who gets my signature - that may turn out to be Wolves."
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Post by Wolvensam on Jun 2, 2008 17:27:16 GMT
Christophe Berra’s agent plans to talk to Hearts in the next 48 hours after confirming Wolves’ interest in the Scotland defender.
Berra’s name has long been associated with a move to Molineux, with manager Mick McCarthy making no secret of his desire to bolster his defence.
Gary McKay has dropped a notable hint that Berra, who made his international bow in Friday’s 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic, would be keen on a move to the West Midlands.
"Christophe, like every other player, wants to further his career,” he said in the Scotsman. “Wolves are a very big club who missed out on the English Championship play-offs narrowly.
“Their interest in Christophe shows their intentions to mount a serious challenge for promotion next season. The level Hearts attained last season compared to Wolves' level is pretty relative. Christophe, as an individual, has progressed this year in difficult circumstances.
“He's just made an international debut, so people like George Burley and Wolves manager Mick McCarthy are aware of his development.
“I will speak to Hearts over the next 24 to 48 hours about the situation but I already know Christophe's thoughts on the matter."
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Post by Wolvensam on Jun 2, 2008 17:31:20 GMT
Wolves look to be the most likely to get close to Burnley's valuation of Kyle Lafferty with Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers reluctant to splash out for the player whose comments have today brought a reaction from the Scottish press.
Kyle Lafferty Rangers boss Walter Smith is believed to have offered around £1.8 million for the Northern Ireland international recently but is said to be unlikely to get involved should the fee go much higher whilst there has been little interest from Celtic boss Gordon Strachan.
The recent Wolves offer of £2.5 million plus Stephen Elliott is still thought to be the highest for a player who has surely played his last game in a claret and blue shirt although there are tabloid suggestions today that they may well have come in with a bigger cash offer.
Lafferty has been headline news all week. It all started with a clear attack on manager Owen Coyle in the Belfast press. This was quickly retracted with some rather strange statements that then led to the fans getting it in the neck from him. Apparently we are boo boys who are forcing him out of Turf Moor but either way he claims to feel unwanted.
Today, Scotland on Sunday writer Mike Wade has been warning him what it might be like for him north of the border should he go up there, and Wade is as baffled as any of us as to how and why this attack on the fans has come about.
He wrote: "For most internet fans, checking out on-line fanzines is still the best way to take a daytime football fix, and apparently the players are at it too. Rangers target Kyle Lafferty is dubbed "Burnley's want-away star" because, according to the Belfast Telegraph, the 20-year-old, "has been left hurt, annoyed and frustrated by criticism … on fans' message boards".
Really? By a strange coincidence I've been checking out the main Burnley fans' site for the past five years and I've never noticed criticism directed at the player, until now. And even if there was, it would be knockabout stuff. Who could take offence at anything written by characters who choose to be known as "professor piehead" or "claretducky"?"
Wade goes on to refer to a situation on a Scottish football message board and then adds: "Will young Lafferty cope with this kind of stuff? He could be a great footballer, but the whinging Irish ingrate had better toughen up before he heads north."
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Post by Wolvensam on Jun 5, 2008 10:14:21 GMT
Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing a renewed bid for Heart of Midlothian captain Christophe Berra, according to reports from Scotland.
Wolves have already had a £1.5 million offer rejected by the Scottish Premier League club but are set to step in with a new bid of around £2 million for the 23-year-old Scotland international defender.
The player's agent Gary Mackay has expressed his disappointment that the initial bid was rejected by Hearts and is seeking talks with the club to convince them to allow highly-rated Berra to leave. Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is looking for a new centre half after telling captain Gary Breen he can leave Molineux and Berra ticks all the boxes of what McCarthy seeks.
He is young, talented and has just been named in new Scotland boss George Burley's first squad, he came on as a substitute during the 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic last weekend. But above all he is hungry to make a career for himself in England.
Berra is also thought to be keen to leave behind him the constant soap opera that is Hearts under owner Vladimir Romanov. Since the Lithuanian businessman took charge at Tynecastle in 2005 there has been a succession of managers and player unrest at his running of the club. Hearts are currently looking for yet another manager after the departure of Stephen Frail.
"Christophe is just like any other player and wants to further his career," Mackay said. "Wolves are avery big club who missed out on the Championship play-offs in England narrowly. Their interest in Christophe shows their intentions to mount a serious challenge for promotion next season.
Wolves are also thought to be stepping up their efforts to sign Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty after the Northern Ireland international indicated he is desperate to leave Turf Moor.
Wolves will face stiff competition from Glasgow Rangers to sign the £4 million rated striker and both clubs have had initial bids rejected. Wanderers have reportedly offered £2.5 million plus Stephen Elliott for the 20-year-old. Celtic are also said to be interested.
"I've given my all to Burnley but don't feel wanted," Lafferty said recently while on international duty. "No player is going to stay where he is not happy.
"I understand Wolves and Rangers want to sign me, and I would be thrilled to move to either club."
"Wolves are ahuge club who are always fighting for a play-off place or automatic promotion. It's always been an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League and I feel, if Imoved to Wolves then I'd have an excellent chance of reaching [it]."
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