Nottingham Forest are reported to have turned down a £750,000 from Town for James Perch. The versatile defender or midfielder has only a year remaining on his contract at the City Ground, but was very much a part of Billy Davies’s side during the second half of last season.
The 24-year-old came through the youth system at Forest, in which Town coach Ian McParland used to be employed, making his first senior appearance in 2004.
Born in Mansfield, Perch has played much of his career at right-back, but has also featured at centre-half, at left-back and in central or wide midfield.
Perch, 5ft 11in tall, captained the Tricky Trees during 2008/09, but missed the first half of last season with a stress fracture of the tibia and the armband was handed on to Paul McKenna. Forest’s second longest-serving current player, Perch has made 189 starts and 31 sub appearances for his only club, scoring 14 goals.
In January, Newcastle made an offer for Perch, which was also turned down by the Midlands club, who described it bid as "derisory”.
A right-back - or perhaps two - is very much on Town’s summer list of targets, while Perch’s versatility may also appeal with manager Roy Keane looking to reduce the size of his squad during the summer.