Graeme Souness has claimed he has made a bid to buy Wolves, despite the Championship club having earlier denied they have been in negotiations with the former Saints manager.

Souness was reported to be part of a consortium interested in taking over control of the Molineux club from owner Sir Jack Hayward, who has said he will hand over the reins to an investor prepared to pump £20million into the club.

A statement from Wanderers chief executive Jez Moxey said: ''It is not true that we are in negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to him".

But Souness said: ''I have offered to buy the Wolves for £20million.

''I don't know why Jez Moxey is saying these things. I have had several telephone conversations with Sir Jack Hayward and I have spoken as well with Jez Moxey.

''And last week I made an offer, subject to an examination of the club's books and accounts, of £20million which is the figure Sir Jack had publicly declared he was looking for".

Souness attended the Barnsley game at Molineux on New Year's Day as a guest of the club, although Moxey claimed that was after a chance meeting on a flight to Florida.

The Scot said today: ''I was told 'no' by Jez Moxey but the offer still stands. It is Sir Jack's football club and if he chooses not to sell it at this time, that's his prerogative.

''He can do what he wants. I have a partner and I see the club having vast potential and I will put more money into it if I got the opportunity.

''This is not a Johnny Foreigner coming along to make a quick buck. But Jez has told me no, the offer wasn't acceptable. That's the end of the matter, but it is there on the table".

Moxey added in a statement on www.wolves.co.uk: ''There are no negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to Graeme Souness. We will only say something on this subject when there is something substantive to report".

The Souness link follows previous reports that Wolves were in talks with Milan Mandaric, the former Portsmouth owner, which were also strongly denied by the club.

Mandaric is currently involved in a takeover at Championship rivals Leicester.