Jay Bothroyd has vowed to remain in English football and prove that he has the talent to be a potent striker once more. The 26-year-old is surplus to requirements at Wolverhampton Wanderers and manager Mick McCarthy has told Bothroyd he can leave Molineux this summer.
There has also been considerable interest in the former Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers striker, especially abroad, but Bothroyd has said he plans to remain in England. Stoke City, who had Bothroyd on loan during their successful promotion campaign last season, Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest are said to be interested.
Bothroyd said: "My time with Wolves has come to an end. Along with a couple of others I am on the transfer list. I've got friends there who I will miss obviously, but being transfer listed doesn't mean the season has ended on a downer. That is football and when I was there on top of that open-top bus (the Stoke City celebrations) there was nothing else I was thinking about.
"The manager (McCarthy) had a chat to me and fair enough, he wants something different for next season. The manager is the manager and I hope things go well for him. He is alovely guy and I don't have a bad word to say about him. There are no sour grapes on my part.
"Apparently there has been interest from a Spanish side, Recreativo Huelva. I've already played overseas with Perugia but I'd like to stay in this country.
"I want to stay and show people in England that I can perform. I have lots of doubters but I know I can do a good job. I am still young and I want to show people what I can do to fulfil my potential.
"I don't know why I've got the doubters, I think it's because of things that happened when I was younger, plus I've been unfortunate with injury problems. People have certain perceptions of me but I want to challenge them and prove them wrong."
Bothroyd isn't the only transfer-listed Wanderers striker attracting interest. Freddy Eastwood has become a wanted man since McCarthy announced he was available for a transfer away from Molineux.
The Wales international, who signed for Wolves for £1.5 million from Southend United last July, was on the verge of signing on loan for Coventry during the transfer window until McCarthy pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute and the Sky Blues are said to be interested again in the 24-year-old, who has also topped an internet poll of the most wanted summer signings at League One champions Swansea City.
Queens Park Rangers are also said to be poised to launch a bid.
Meanwhile, Wanderers have been linked with a move for Cardiff City's FA Cup final full-back Tony Capaldi. Wolves are rumoured to be tracking the 26-year-old Northern Ireland international along with Coventry City.
Until the arrival of Elokobi from Colchester United in January, Wolves were certainly short at left back with only Michael Gray as a recognised left back, although the former Sunderland and England star was used as a wide midfielder in the closing stages of the last campaign.
Wanderers continue to be linked with Derby County midfielder David Jones.
The former Manchester United reserve team player was a colleague of Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake at Old Trafford before signing for the Rams in January 2007 for £1.1 million but the 23-year-old does not feature in Derby manager Paul Jewell's plans. Jewell is clearing the decks at Pride Park and the England under-21 international fits Wolves manager Mick McCarthy's preferred profile of young and hungry footballers.
McCarthy has also been linked with a move for Leicester City striker Steven Howard but the Foxes are unlikely to make any decisions on players until Ian Holloway's future as manager has been resolved.
