The on-going Steven Fletcher saga showed little sign of being resolved last night, although the striker remained hopeful his move to Wearside could somehow be sorted over this weekend.
However, the transfer has hit a brick wall with neither side willing to compromise, despite being locked in talks for the past four days.
Sources close to the deal said it could still go either way – the last thing a frustrated Martin O’Neill wanted to hear at this stage.
Sunderland are not willing to pay the £15million asking price, while Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey shows no signs of blinking.
He has made it clear he believed Sunderland’s value of the club’s top scorer for the past two season was nowhere close to a figure which could Wolves could consider.
He said: “As we have previously stated, we wish to retain our best players.
“These are challenging situations for all parties but we will continue to conduct our business in a respectful manner and will honour all of our commitments.
“We hope, and expect, other parties to do likewise.”
Wolves are trying hard to hang on to their best players as they seek to earn a return to the Premier League at the first attempt following last season’s relegation.
They have rejected a £6million down, plus £3m in add-ons, offer from West Ham for England winger Matt Jarvis.
Sunderland, as The Journal revealed yesterday, also want Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe, but that deal is still some way off being completed.
The 29-year-old’s wage demands could be a problem for a club who do not have the same budget as the big-spending White Hart Lane outfit.
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