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.

Photo: Action Images

WorcesterBlue added 09:47 - Jun 29 Ipswichjon - though I have some sympathy with your post asI am sure PJ and ME have been nailing down their targets, the more relevant statistic would be to compare us with teams who also only have one goalkeeper and two recognised centre backs having failed to strengthen there the previous season and suffered mightily as a consequence. Even reasonable fans are nervous in the light of our failure to effectively address this over recent seasons and have a right to express these worries. Worryingly Chambers who everyone seems to want us to sign was part of as leaky defence too last season, as were Pearce and Ward for that matter. Collins was no more than average either. Maybe PJ has a few aces up his sleeve that no-one has predicted? Lets hope so.

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WorcesterBlue added 09:50 - Jun 29 Oh and Howells was a big miss imo - the Luton fans are over the moon and I think we've missed out here and I'd love to know just what pitch we made to him as Championship football mustv have been a lure. But well done to the lad for being loyal and seeing where that might take him.
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ipswichjon added 10:26 - Jun 29 WorcesterBlue - Agreed that we need a keeper etc I just think it's crazy to expect any transfers yet, nothing will go through till around July time as that's when most players contracts run down and players will have returned from holidays. I'm guessing Jewel has targets lined up and lets be honest no one knew much about Chopra, Andrews, Stockdale, JET signing until the deal was all but done. If there's no activity by the end of the next 10 days or so then I think we can start questioning the club, till then we all need a bit of patience.

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DanLyles added 11:32 - Jun 29 Do people envisage Davies playing up front with Chopra? According to numerous Derby fans he's not physically the strongest and far from a natural target man. From what I've read Davies could fit in nicely in the Murphy role, coming from an advanced left position. He's good in the air, has played attacking left midfield frequently, has a good first touch and very impressive long range shot. Maybe Davies would offer us the flexibility of being able to play in several systems: as cover for Chopra, on the left or even as the target man alongside Chops (depending on how accurate the Derby fans assessment of him was).

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Surco72 added 12:26 - Jun 29 Worcesterblue .. i thought Howells had gone on record saying he did not know of any interest from other clubs ,surely that would suggest we didnt offer any kind of package and just more speculation like the majority of links so far since the season ended ?
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nitroblue1970 added 12:45 - Jun 29 any news on the possible loan move of Mehdi Abeid from newcastle????
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BlueVelvet added 12:53 - Jun 29 something not quite right with 'family reasons', by dropping the London connection thing he's claelry saying to London Prem clubs - come and get me
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NoelTheDub added 14:20 - Jun 29 this guy could be playing on the moon at this moment...same old story at itfc we are linked with a player and everyone starts talking about how hes going to get to town it like trains,planes and automobiles,were a joke at this moment these guys like davies, chambers,and others that will get us back to were we belong get the cash out mr evens an clegg.....
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Lombokblue added 18:42 - Jun 29 We have scouts who scour the world for hidden gems and end up going after a player PJ signed before
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bigolconnor added 20:02 - Jun 29 Rather have fuller.
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Talbs77 added 20:33 - Jun 29 I will be honest and say I dont know an awfull lot about this guy, whats his goals record like as I recall when he was linked earlier in the month the stats were shown not to be that great although thats not to say he's not a good player just by his goal record. If Fuller was a couple of years younger I would rather have him but just feel he's slightly over age, although he could also be a Jason Roberts. Shame we couldn't afford when he was on loan all those years ago. Even though he was sent off after what I think his 3rd game down here, he really was a top player back then I think we do have to get a bit of a shift on especially signing goalies and central defenders as it takes time for them to become a unit, it certainly doesnt happen overnight, they need as many games as they can. But hopefully if get another couple in next week, notably a central defender and goalie I wont be overly worried, as long as they are the right sginings of course.

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billlm added 20:43 - Jun 29 no news today phil have u gone journo shy on us.
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mightytown added 13:02 - Jun 30 would be very happy if we signed both him and Luke chambers. bar a goal keeper and another centre midfielder then we should more or less have what we need for next year. would have the players needed to set up as four four two but with the flexibility in the side to play an adaptive system. a smallish squad but with competition for places and, hopefully, a few more youngsters chomping at the bit, in and around the squad. if we line up like this next season I will be very happy: Goal: Loach/Guzan Def: Edwards, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell Mid: Jet, Drury, _______ , Martin Att: Chopra, Davies. Goal: ALB, Def: Hewitt, ________, Delaney, ______ Mid: Carson, Hyam, Bullard, Stevenson Att: Scotland, Murphy. Obviously I've shown my preferences for the keeper position but will not even try and speculate who the men we bring in will be, as you just never know. Also, not suggesting we should play stevenson on the left, the 2nd theam is more of an idea of how the subs and reserves would line up in a similar formation to the starting eleven. I think we will be able to play a more fluid system set up as 4-4-2, as long as we get the right players in, of course! But, I do think its important we remind ourselves that it is only the acquisition of 3 or 4 players that we need to compete next year, not, yet another, complete overhaul. We are still a long, long way from promotion but once the transfers start ticking over at greater pace (often feel championship clubs have to wait for the prem boys to start buying before it feeds down to us - once one player frees up squad space/cash, they all start moving!) Ever the optimist, I await the season with nervous anticipation!

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blue_jim added 00:54 - Jul 1 My bet is either Palace or Charlton, probably the former
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Keaneish added 01:24 - Jul 1 Not for Palace i shouldnt think they already have Murray for that role. I heard they'd had a bid accepted for McCormack anyway!
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Sospiri added 06:55 - Jul 1 Rosseden and others. Thanks for your informed comments and reponses. Its why this site is worth visiting. Thanks. (Yes, I really mean it)
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afrodids added 19:52 - Jul 1 Apparently Liverpool are interested in this guy!!
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