Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy believes it is unlikely that Seyi Olofinjana will still be at the club come the start of the new season.
The 28-year-old Nigerian activated a clause in the four-year contract he signed last year which allowed him to be sold to a Premier League club if Wolves failed to gain promotion. Wanderers have honoured the agreement and several clubs are believed to be interested, notably Hull City.
McCarthy is planning to be without the midfielder next season but would be delighted if Olofinjana had a change of heart. “I saw Seyi at the Hereford friendly and he was back in training,” McCarthy said.
“I’d love him to stay but he’ll end up going. He’s a Premier League player and if gets the opportunity, he’ll go. I’m confident for him because he’s a good player. Everyone I’ve spoken to, I’ve said ‘take him’ because if I was a Premier League manager, I’d sign him”
Meanwhile, striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is enjoying Wolves’ pre-season programme and said all the players were benefitting from the work of fitness coach Tony Daley.
Ebanks-Blake, who scored the winner in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Dundee, said: “I was really pleased to get off the mark. The conditions were difficult because the pitch was really dry, the ball was sticky and we were only playing for 45 minutes.
“Pre-season has been really challenging. ‘Dales’ (Daley) has got the lads ticking over really well. Each year though, pre-season becomes more scientific.
“Dales’ is now assessing our heart rates during games and he’s looking at percentages and how hard people are working by their heart rates.
“It’s an important time because it can help shape your season. It can mean you go into the season feeling fit and fresh and you have that work under your belt. It’s definitely starting to get tougher – Sunday’s game at Dundee wasn’t easy. People call them friendlies but there are far from friendlies”
