Sunderland poised after Fletcher asks for a transfer

It is believed the Black Cats have tabled a £12 million bid for Fletcher with the npower Championship club. But Wolves will have to pay Fletcher’s previous club, Burnley, a slice of any transfer deal and are determined to obtain the highest possible price for the player.

Yesterday afternoon Fletcher took to Twitter to reveal that he had handed in a transfer request. “Just handed in a transfer request just to let the fans know where I am at right now,” he wrote, before adding “#headsgone”.

Wolves later confirmed Fletcher’s request but will not sell the player until the club’s valuation of the 25-year-old is met by any interested clubs.

A statement from the club read: “Wolves can confirm that Steven Fletcher has handed in an official transfer request.

“The player’s frustration stems from the fact that several bids have been rejected for his services, none of which meets the club’s valuation. As previously stated, no player will leave Wolves unless the club’s valuation is met. Wolves will be making no further comment at this time.”

Wolves’ chief executive Jez Moxey ws also quoted yesterday as saying: “Rumours that we have accepted a bid from Sunderland are incorrect. They want the player, but we haven’t accepted anything.”

Fletcher joined Wolves in June 2010 from Burnley, signing a four-year contract with an  option for a fifth year.

The Scottish international – who has been left out of recent national squads because of a rift with manager Craig Levein – has finished as top goalscorer in both of his seasons at Molineux, reaching double figures in the Barclays Premier League on both occasions.

He made 26 Premier League starts last season, scoring 12 top flight goals. Fletcher has not played in any of Wolves’ pre-season games for the past two weeks because of an ankle injury.