Blues boss Paul Jewell says he’s not made a bid for Derby’s Steve Davies and hints that he may have decided to look elsewhere for a new frontman. The Town manager is hopeful that his fourth signing of the summer might be close, although wouldn’t confirm whether that player was a striker.
Jewell said: "No, [there’s been no bid made for Davies]. I spoke to Nigel Clough yesterday to tell him that at the end of the day we have other targets. There’s a lot been said. We’re hopeful of getting certainly one in pretty quickly.”
The Town boss wouldn’t be drawn on whether that player was definitely a striker but outlined where he is looking to strengthen: "We’re going to need a big centre forward, someone who is going to give us a bit of physicality up front, and then the same in the middle of the park.
"We’re at least two players light to just give us that bit of presence and that’s where we’re looking to strengthen.”
West Ham’s Sam Baldock, who we reported was on Jewell’s wish list back in May, is again being linked, although the former MK Dons man is a more diminutive frontman than the type of player the Blues boss says he is aiming to add to his squad.
Derby are believed to want a fee of £1 million for Davies, who Jewell brought to Pride Park from Tranmere when manager of the Rams. The Blues are understood to be unwilling to make an offer of that magnitude.
Davies has confirmed he'll be leaving Derby in the summer for family reasons with a switch to club in the south his preferred option.