Wolves today confirmed they are hoping to sign £3m-rated Cologne defender Pedro Geromel to end boss Stale Solbakken's summer-long search for a centre-back.

Solbakken has told German media that Wolves are hoping to talk to the 26-year-old, and the club today confirmed they are looking to set up discussions to get ahead in the queue with Spanish interest in the player.

"We're hoping to talk to Cologne about Pedro, of course," said the Wolves chief. Geromel will cost around £3m, but Wolves face competition from Spanish sides Seville and Celta Vigo to land the Portuguese.

"Those clubs from Spain are having financial troubles," added Solbakken. "Maybe it's a chance for us to step up and do it."

The 6ft 3ins centre-back was made captain at Cologne by the Norwegian during his time in charge in the controversial decision that saw Lukas Podolski stripped of the armband. But he is now surplus to requirements as the club seek to cut costs following relegation.

Geromel has made 116 appearances for Cologne, who he joined in June 2008 after they won promotion to the Bundesliga.

He moved to Germany after impressing in 67 games for Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, where an online poll voted him best player in the league for 2007-08.

Solbakken has made signing a new centre-back a priority and missed out on Norway international Vadim Demidov, who joined Eintracht Frankfurt, while Christophe Berra has asked for a transfer.

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Berra was booed whenever he touched the ball after coming on as a substitute in Saturday's 7-6 penalty shoot-out win over Aldershot in the Capital One Cup.

Solbakken today admitted the whole club is "unsettled" with several players' futures up in the air.

Michael Kightly, Adlene Guedioura and Sam Vokes have been sold while bids have been rejected for Steven Fletcher, Matt Jarvis, Dorus De Vries and Ronald Zubar and Fletcher, Jarvis and Berra want out.

"We have to be honest and say everything's a little unsettled," said Solbakken. "It would be stupid to say everything is fine because it's not."