Crewe Alexandra technical director Dario Gradi says his club would consider offers for striker Nicky Maynard. The Blues are one of a number of sides looking at the 21-year-old frontman.

Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Bolton, Sunderland and West Brom have all been mentioned in addition to Town, but Gradi says the Railwaymen are yet to receive any serious interest: "West Brom's chairman [Jeremy Peace] is not backward in coming forward and I would have thought there would have been some dialogue with our chairman John Bowler by now, which there hasn't been.

"So far no one has approached us about Nick and I doubt they will, but you never know. If it was the right deal and it was good for us and Nicky then we'd do it."

Gradi says ideally he would like to keep Maynard at Gresty Road as Crewe look to return to the Championship: "Having Nicky in from the start of next season will be a boost to us.”

Yesterday, a national newspaper claimed Town had made a £1.5 million bid for the striker. Subsequent reports suggested that was premature, although the Blues are believed to be considering a move for the Alex striker.

Maynard came through Crewe's famous youth system 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.

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