Wolves keen to tie Doyle to new deal

WOLVES owner Steve Morgan wants to tie Ireland striker Kevin Doyle into a long contract but is in no rush to get round the table and negotiate.

The Wexford man is halfway through a four-year deal at Molineux and Wolves want to renegotiate longer terms before the start of next season knowing that if any of the clubs touted to be interested in the €7.6m striker come calling, his transfer value will be protected.

At the moment the attention of the multi-millionaire construction boss is focused on bringing new players in.

“I’m sure we’ll have those conversations with Kevin and his agent at the right time,” said Morgan.

“Kevin has been a fantastic signing for this club and is a key player for us. We’d like to secure his services going forward.”

Asked whether Wolves could come to a deal with Doyle’s advisors before the season starts, he said: “It might well be. I don’t know. The problem at the moment is we’re fighting on a lot of fronts,” he added.

“Kevin and a number of players who might come into that category have still got two years left.

“So there is no panic to secure it. It is not like they’re out of contract at the end of next season.”

Arsenal, Schalke and Borussia Dortmund are reported to be interested in the 27-year-old but as yet no clubs have approached Wolves about his availability.

Morgan unveiled Wolves new €5.8m signing Jamie O’Hara yesterday and admitted the former Spurs midfielder would not have joined the club had they been relegated.

“I don’t think he would have come,” said Morgan.

“He’s a Premier League footballer and he wanted to be playing in the Premier League, it was nothing to do with Wolves. But it was one of the shortest negotiations with a player and terms I’ve ever had. He wanted to be here and it was a case of ‘where’s the contract? Give me it’.”

At one stage last season O’Hara suggested he could play for Ireland. O’Hara was annoyed when asked about his international future yesterday but said his relatives would help make his mind up.