Wolves boss Dave Jones has made an audacious bid to land Brazilian superstar Rivaldo - but admits it is doomed to failure.
Jones pursued the star this week following his release from AC Milan but knows he has bigger plans than a Premiership relegation struggle.
Jones said: "The answer was pretty much what we expected - Rivaldo feels he has bigger fish to fry. But you never get anywhere without asking."
Instead Jones must switch his attention to the more mundane task of squeezing out more points ahead of the tough Christmas and New Year programme. Jones is demanding a vastly improved display on his side's return to north London to face Tottenham tomorrow just five days after Carling Cup humiliation at Highbury.
And the Wanderers boss admitted his players had been suffering on the training pitch this week after the 5-1 reversal which Jones described as dismal. Jones said: "The lads were a bit sheepish coming off a defeat like that. I hope they were hurting after Tuesday - I know that I am and that people associated with the club are too.
"We've been a bit hot and cold - we're either up or down and when you meet quality sides every week you need to find some consistency. We have got to hang in there."
Only goal difference separates Jones' men from the foot of the table but they took plenty of positives out of last Saturday's Molineux draw with Newcastle. Joey Gudjonsson and Henri Camara both hit the woodwork as the home side largely dominated a team tipped by most to reach the Champions League.