NOTTINGHAM Forest have been left furious after Aston Villa allowed Marlon Harewood to join Championship rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Evening Post understands that Forest yesterday believed they had finally negotiated a deal to bring the 29-year-old back to the City Ground, after more than a week of talks.

But the former Reds front-man is now set to sign for the West Midlands club this weekend, after the two clubs agreed a fee for a permanent move in the summer.
Wolves' late interest saw the Premiership club persuaded to allow him to move to Molineux instead, as the deal will see them recoup some of the £4m fee they paid for West Ham for Harewood in 2007.

Forest would themselves have been interested in making the move permanent in the summer, but Harewood is understood to have preferred a switch to a club chasing promotion to the Premiership, rather than fighting relegation into League One – despite previous claims that he was 'desperate' to return.

Marlon Harewood will be signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, rather than Nottingham Forest," said manager Billy Davies, who must now resume his search for a striker.

Davies had been keen to add Harewood to his squad to add a powerful, physical presence to his front-line as they go into their critical final seven games of the season – and had hoped he would be signed in time to face Wolves tomorrow.

It is unlikely that the deal will be completed in time for Harewood to make his Wolves debut at the City Ground, although Wolves are likely not to utilise him anyway, even if his move is completed.

Source: Nottingham Evening Post

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