SODJE SIGNING FACES HOLD-UP

The Owls manager has given up hope of landing the centre half for the Valley clash as he chases THREE new signings.

Sodje trained with Reading yesterday amid an unexplained snag in the transfer after a fee - believed to around 350,000 - had been agreed and Wednesday were given to understand from the player wants to come to Hillsborough.

Laws told The Star: "We don't know what the problem is. We wanted Sam to be involved in our preparations and be involved for Saturday, but it's too late for that now. I'll be talking to Steve Coppell again to see if we can sort out what's happening.

"It seems to be some kind of difficulty at their end; we haven't yet got to the bottom of what it is. We agreed everything with Reading; and Sam was telling us he wants to come."

Sodje had talks in Sheffield with the Owls earlier in the week.

Reading boss Coppell seems similarly puzzled by the delay: "We have accepted the offer and it is down to I don't know what.

"Brian Laws is still very keen to sign him but I honestly don't know what the problem is."

There is speculation that, after both managers fulfilled their part in the deal by agreeing the switch, Sodje or his agent has been trying to negotiate a severance package with Reading officials.

Laws has revealed that as well as Sodje and the foreign target - believed to be a Hungarian left winger - for whom a bid has lain on the table for weeks - he is also after "a player in another position" in a full transfer, not a loan.

The winger is proving hard to get: "Since we had a look at him he has scored bagful of goals, become a full international, and his price is increasing as we speak. But we're still in there."