Wolves look to tie up Danny Batth to new deal

Home-grown defender Danny Baath has still to agree a new contract despite emerging as the folk-hero of the new Wolves being built by head coach Kenny Jackett.

The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is now at liberty to talk to other clubs overseas.

That is an unlikely prospect but Jackett, while optimistic the Molineux loyalist will eventually agree terms, concedes a new deal is taking "some work."

He said: "We're still negotiating. I do think that it has taken some work, on both sides, but it hasn't been concluded yet.

"It hasn't broken down. I wouldn't say there's a stand-off or that it's finished but we're still in negotiations."

Having said in October that "the ball was in Batth's court" the head coach added: "I think it has gone over the net about half a dozen times. I think it is just about over the net now, I'm not sure but it could be either way!

"But it is definitely not dead.It is not as if there is a stand off but the signs are that he is committed. Negotiations are going back and forth.

"He is a very good player. He's had a good season and done very well. I hope personally that the deal gets done. I hope for him as well because he has put a lot of effort in and worked hard to get where he is.

"He's had loan spells and there's this season where I think he has really put his stamp on the team strongly.

"He is popular with the supporters.

"He is able to talk to foreign clubs, not domestic clubs. We'd be naive if we all thought agents didn't speak anyway even to people that are in contract.

"But I'm certainly very hopeful that we can get a conclusion."

But the player acclaimed in a South Bank song which has provided a sound track for the season is certainly coveted by Jackett who believes the partnership with Richard Stearman is as good as it gets in the third tier.

"He's had good loan spells and good experiences at both Colchester and a big club like Sheffield Wednesday," he said.

"And you can see now in his performances this season that he was ready for it.

"Some people would say he was ready sooner and could have played in the team at an earlier stage. But he's been ready and as half seasons go he's looked as strong as anybody in the League in his position.

"And that's what we want at Wolves. We want players that are comparable to the best in the League in every position. I look at him and Richard Stearman who have been mainly our centre-back partnership, and they are comparable to anybody in the League."