BURNLEY last night completed the signing of Ben Mee on a three-and-a-half-year deal – but Wolves have decided to hang on to Sam Vokes for the time being.

The Clarets have converted Mee’s season-long loan into a permanent deal after the 22-year-old yesterday put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at Turf Moor until the summer of 2015.

The defender had been in talks over personal terms after Burnley agreed an undisclosed fee with Manchester City.

Clarets boss Eddie Howe has also been keen to extend Vokes’ loan deal following its expiry after Saturday’s win at Middlesbrough.

Burnley lost both Martin Paterson and Junior Stanislas to hamstring injuries at the weekend, leaving Howe with reduced options up front, but Wolves boss Mick McCarthy yesterday said the striker would be remaining at Molineux for now.

Brighton and another club are also understood to be interested in a loan deal and Vokes’ situation could be assessed again before the closure of the transfer window on January 31, with Wolves considering bringing in another forward.

Vokes had struggled to secure game time at the end of his Clarets loan, following the return of Charlie Austin, but McCarthy was impressed by the Welsh international’s performances earlier in his temporary spell at Turf Moor. The 22-year-old could yet be involved as a substitute in Wolves’ FA Cup replay against Birmingham tonight.

“Sam Vokes is back and there’s quite a bit of interest in him, so we’ll see,” McCarthy said.

“I’m not going to make any decisions on him or others yet.

“There are plenty of people who want two or three of ours on loan but I will wait and see.

“I need to see what can we do, and if we do something (in the transfer market) then great, but if we don’t, we’re cool with what we’ve got."

That could leave Howe looking at other loan options as he bids to bolster his strike force, with the Clarets boss yesterday admitting he was also considering other targets.

Howe, though, has secured Mee on a long-term deal and the defender had no qualms about leaving City.

"I have no problem in flying the nest, it's a good club here as well," Mee said.

"We've got a good squad here, good togetherness and that's what I really like.

"I think we can go on and do something this season and if not we have got a good young squad and next season will be a big season as well for us. But we are looking at this season.

"Initially I suppose it was 'see how you go and see what happens’.

"But I have been enjoying myself and the manager has been really good to me, bringing me on loan and putting a lot of trust in me, so everything worked out really well.”