North End's hopes of signing Nottingham Forest winger Kris Commons have been scuppered because the fee was too high.

But manager Billy Davies still aims to have more new faces in the side for next week's big kick-off and is hopeful about signing another potential target, Kevin Coope from Wolves.

North End have been in the hunt for a new winger since Eddie Lewis moved to Leeds United .

As usual, the club has tried to keep transfer dealings confidential as the club's track record in digging up gems has meant that other sides regularly monitor North End's transfer activities.

But Davies has revealed that Kris Commons is a player he wanted to sign, but newly-relegated Nottingham Forest wanted £1million for him.

Davies said: "The price was too much for us, even though he is a player we admire."

Commons, 21, began his career at Stoke and moved to Forest for £300,000 last summer.

Last season, he made 19 starts and scored six goals, along with one in the FA Cup. Speculation in the West Midlands linking Kevin Cooper with a move from Wolves to Preston led to North End confirming they were interested in the 30-year-old.

But Wolves have yet to get back to North End to say if the player is for sale.

His career at Molineux has been hit and miss after signing in 2002 for £1million. In just over three seasons, he has played just 32 league games, being a substitute in another 30.

He spent much of Wolves' season in the Premiership on loan at Championship clubs Norwich and Sunderland.