According to reports this evening, Town have tabled a bid for Crewe striker Nicky Maynard.

The bid is undisclosed but said to be over £1m for the young forward, with previous reports last month stated we had offered £1.5m.

Maynard, 21, came through the famous youth system at Gresty Road and was in the side which reached the 2004 FA Youth Cup semi-finals. A year later, the Winsford-born frontman signed his first professional deal, then in 2006 spent time on loan with Unibond League side Witton Albion.

His good form for Witton and in the Railwaymen's reserve side saw him make his full debut for Crewe as a sub on the final day of the 2005/06 season.

Maynard became a regular for the Alex the following season, scoring 19 goals in 32 starts and six sub appearances. Last year, he continued to be a threat in front of goal, but the early part of his season was disrupted by a broken fibula and ankle ligament damage sustained in August against Brighton.

In April, the 5ft 11in tall striker netted his first senior hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Cheltenham, ending the season having scored 15 goals in 25 starts and three sub appearances.

Maynard, whose father Dave was a well known non-league player, is contracted to Crewe until the summer of 2010, having signed a four-year deal in 2006. Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Bolton, Sunderland and West Brom have all been linked with a move for Maynard this summer, although Tony Mowbray's club subsequently denied any interest.

Photo: Action Images

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