City target the Owls' want-away Wood; Wood's back on City radar.

Byline: Andy Turner 

COVENTRY CITY are back in for Sheffield Wednesday centreback Richard Wood as manager Chris Coleman looks to beef up his back four.

The Owls have transfer-listed the 24-year-old, who Coleman tried to sign last year, and accused him of deliberately pricing himself out of an extended stay at Hillsborough.

The defender's contract expires next year and Wednesday wanted him to sign a new one. Talks have been going on for months but they finally broke down yesterday and manager Brian Laws announced that the player was being put up for sale.

"We have been talking with him for weeks and weeks, though everyone thought we would be leaving it until January," said a furious Laws who launched a scathing attack on the player whom he suspects may already have a new club lined up.

"Richard and his agent think he should be the highest-paid player at this club. His demands are too great. There is no negotiating to be done. His demands are 'I want this or I'm going and I'll get it somewhere else.' "Our decision has to be that we can't pay it. Richard and his agent knowwe can't pay it. They're asking for something they knew we couldn't pay in the first place. It tells us something might have been done elsewhere. "I'm very angry. I don't know whether I've been led down the garden path. Richard has said hewants to be at this club - but he demands something that he knows we can't pay. "We have tried our best.We have offered him a great deal. "It's got to the point where why should we wait anymore? Why should we wait until January,when we know he can go free? Let's see what we can get for him as quickly as we can." Wood will miss Saturday's match at Bristol because of the ankle injury that has kept him out of the last three games.

The Owls chief added: "Richard believes he is in a really strong position. He and his agent feel he can get more money somewhere else. There's no waywe can pay the kind of cash they're talking about. "Let's cut all the rubbish out, get it out in the open, put him on the market and sell him now instead of him going for nothing. He's replaceable. If get the money I'll replace him." Ipswich Town are also believed to be interested in the player who has been admired by Coleman for some time. The City boss has made no secret of the fact he is looking for a centre-back and is hoping to get his target in on loan with a view to a permanent deal in January. Although a deal is not imminent, speaking generally, Coleman said: "I have discussed the loan situation this week with the chairman and Andy Thorn.

We know January is coming. We have talked to clubs but I can't saywe are further down the line than we were this time last week." Meanwhile, Coleman's defensive problems continue ahead of tomorrow's Ricoh Arena clash with third bottom Reading, as Stephen Wright, who has been playing at centre-back, was this week sent home with 'flu, while Elliott Ward is suffering with a back injury. Elsewhere, striker Leon Best is back in contention after missing the West Brom game with a knee injury, and midfielder Aron Gunnarsson could be on the bench.

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BACK ON THE RADAR... Richard Wood is again a target for Chris Coleman.