Greg Halford is set to join Wolverhampton Wanderers today in a deal believed to be worth more than £2million.

The defender's £3m switch to Wearside from Reading two years ago failed to work out.

But he has been in demand after positive loan spells with Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United in the last season-and-a-half.

The 24-year-old was a key figure for the Blades last season, scoring the play-off semi-final winner against Preston to send Kevin
Blackwell's men into a Wembley showdown with Burnley.

United planned to make a permanent move for the former England Under-20 international, but had to scrap the deal after losing the play-off final 1-0.

The Londoner will become the second player Wolves' ex-Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has pinched from a potential move to Bramall Lane after Blades target Andrew Surman was captured from troubled Southampton yesterday.

McCarthy – who led Wolves to the Championship title last season, emulating his achievement on Wearside – has had a busy week in the transfer market, also snapping up Reading and Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle for a club-record £6.5m. Doyle had reportedly been interesting Sunderland.

Halford arrived at the Stadium of Light as one of the highest rated players in the Championship.

He always looked accomplished going forward, but became a liability defensively and Roy Keane – who signed him from Colchester – quickly dropped the youngster.