City are hoping to sign Wolves' outcast striker Michael Branch.

The Bantams plan to snap up the 24-year-old on a free when his Molineux contract runs out at the end of the season after failing to get him on loan.

But there is an outside chance they could even make a move ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline if former England under-21 international Branch can get Wolves to pay him up three months early.

City chairman Gordon Gibb confirmed: "We have had an on-going interest in Michael and that's something we are going to take up at the end of his contract with Wolves.

"There was an interest in taking him on loan but that was ruled out. Nicky Law was interested in him and still is but there is a contractual issue with his present club."

Branch, inset, joined Wolves from Everton for £500,000 in January, 2000 after impressing on loan with four goals in nine games.

But he has managed only six in 62 league appearances since and is well down the pecking order as sixth-choice striker under Dave Jones.

Branch, who had two games with Reading at the end of last season, has not featured for Wolves at all this campaign. His only first-team action was a spell with Hull in Division Three, where he scored three in seven.

But he has been scoring regularly for the reserves and, although quite slightly built, has the pace to trouble defenders - which would be a huge asset in Law's rebuilding plan at City.

If Branch was to sign, it is likely he would have to take a pay cut of more than half to fit in with the £85,000 wage ceiling.

l Robbie Blake is backing City young gun Danny Forrest to become a future force.

Forrest produced a lively display as the Bantams hit back from Saturday's loss to Reading by dumping Blake's Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor last night with goals by Claus Jorgensen and Andy Gray.

City old boy Blake, a second-half substitute, swallowed his disappointment to tip the teenager for big things.

Blake said: "Danny trained with us a few times when I was at the club and always looked lively. He seems to have come on a lot. I hope he does really well and believe that he will do."