Foxes baulk at Cox price

Robins want £2.5million for sought-after striker

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 19th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Foxes baulk at Cox price

Cox: Wanted man

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Leicester City have warned Swindon that they are not prepared to pay over the odds for Simon Cox.

The Foxes have already seen one approach for the highly-rated Robins striker knocked back, but are believed to be ready to reignite their interest.

Cox, who netted 32 goals in the 2008/09 campaign, is also reported to be drawing admiring glances from West Brom and Derby.

The clamour for his services has only served to raise his valuation though, with Swindon keen to recoup around £2.5million if they are to part company with their prize-asset.

That is a figure yet to be matched, with Leicester chief executive Lee Hoos admitting his side are reluctant to part with that kind of money.

"That is pretty steep for a League One player," Hoos said in the Swindon Advertiser.

"We know where we need to shore up, but we are trying to get things done within reason.

Conditions

"It is not a case of having an unlimited amount of money, market conditions are tight and we are trying to do the best we can with it.

"There are a number of players we are looking at, and I won't talk about a particular one, but if the chairman of Swindon says he received an offer from us, who am I to argue?"

Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton admits the club have yet to receive any further offers since the Foxes' initial approach, but accepts that a number of sides are keeping tabs on Cox.

"The clubs who have been talking to us about Simon Cox have been talking to us about him for some weeks," he said.

"There are conversations going on between managers and chairmen all the time, pieces of the jigsaw being moved around. And then eventually something comes to fruition if it is the right thing to do.

"You can rest assured that those conversations have gone on, but at this moment in time Simon Cox remains a Swindon player and as far as I'm concerned an offer isn't an offer until a fax arrives on the floor.

"Simon Cox is a Swindon Town player and has done a great job for this club so far. He wouldn't be unhappy if he was still a Swindon Town player next season."