Clough to renew defender bids

Barker: Still wanted by Rams

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Derby County boss Nigel Clough has confirmed he is ready to make new offers for Blackpool defender Shaun Barker and Crewe Alexandra full-back John Brayford.

Clough has seen previous bids for the duo rejected, but remains keen to bring Barker and Brayford to Pride Park before the start of the season.

Barker has been valued at £1million by Blackpool and Clough has previously suggested he would be reluctant to meet that asking price.

However, the departures of Tyrone Mears and Emanuel Villa have increased his transfer budget and he is now ready to revisit the situation.

"We are still talking (to Blackpool) and, hopefully, we will be going back in the next few days," Clough told the Derby Evening Telegraph.

"We have made offers for both players, which have been rejected, so we are in the process of drawing up fresh offers which will go in as soon as we can."

Ridiculous

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is sticking to his valuation of Barker and is disappointed with the prices being quoted for potential replacements, should the full-back leave Bloomfield Road.

Holloway said: "I have already asked other clubs about their players and given the chairman three or four targets just in case Shaun goes. So they're already lined up to some extent.

"However, the insulting thing is that the people we've inquired about, their clubs are asking for almost more than we've been offered for Shaun.

"It is a ridiculous situation. It really is. You can call our valuation for Shaun ridiculous, but ours is based on fact."