Martin O'Neill will wait for Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey and plans to sign Brad Friedel as a short-term solution.
Aston Villa boss O'Neill hoped to get Hennessey this summer and called Molineux about their Wales star, 21. But Wanderers will not sell their prized asset for a year as they push for the Premier League.
And O'Neill is now set to complete a £2million move for Blackburn's US veteran Friedel, 37, ahead of Saturday's InterToto Cup game with Danish side OB Odense.
But O'Neill will return for £6m-rated Hennessey should Wolves fail to win promotion.
