Town target Steve Davies has confirmed that he will be leaving Derby County this summer to join an as yet undecided club in the south. The Rams recently denied claims that the Blues had made a £500,000 offer for the 24-year-old but TWTD understands the striker is on Paul Jewell’s summer wish-list, the Town manager having been the man who brought him to Pride Park during his time as Derby boss.
Earlier this month, Rams boss Nigel Clough revealed that Davies had been made available for transfer for "a genuine family reason" having turned down new terms shortly after Derby had activated an option on his current contract extending his deal to the summer of 2013.
Davies, who the Rams reportedly value at £1 million, tweeted confirmation of his exit earlier this evening: "Sorry guys and girls. Unfortunately I am leaving and I know people are sceptical but it is honestly for family reasons.
"Me and my family have loved it here and I have loved playing for [Derby] but it's time to move on - you have been great fans, thank you.
"My family are actually from London, so I think it will be down south, but not 100% just yet. Thanks for the support.”
Jewell brought Davies - who perhaps notably was following a Town-related website on Twitter for a while earlier this evening - from Tranmere to Derby in June 2008 for a fee which could have risen as high as £725,000 had various clauses been triggered.
Injuries - including a fractured skull last October - have limited Davies to only 55 starts and 39 sub appearances in his four years with Derby, in which time he has scored 23 goals, 12 of them during 2011/12.
When Davies was first mentioned in connection with the Blues last month Bristol City were also said to be interested, along with Leeds, whose location would appear to rule them out of the running.