Wolves lost out to Sunderland for ex-Birmingham City midfielder Craig Gardner over personal terms.
The Express & Star says it is understood Wolves matched the £4.5million fee Sunderland have paid Birmingham for the sharp-shooting midfielder, who was due to be unveiled as the Black Cats' latest signing today.
Gardner was then left with a dilemma over which club to choose. The former England under-21 international, whose £25,000-a-week wages were going to remain the same in the Championship, is believed to have favoured Wolves.
But Sunderland were able to trump them on the wages they could offer, leaving manager Mick McCarthy to look elsewhere and Gardner to sign a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
