County in talks with Blackpool ace

Palmer, whose side are 15 points adrift at the foot of the First Division, sees Murphy as the man to partner fellow new recruit Luke Beckett up front and has begun preliminary talks with Blackpool counterpart Steve McMahon.

McMahon is unwilling for Murphy, who wants to move to a higher league club, to go, but with the burly frontrunner out of contract in the summer, he says it makes sense for Blackpool to cash in on him now.

"It's far from a done deal at this stage, we've allowed big John Murphy to go and speak to Stockport with possibly Scott Taylor coming this way," he said.

"It's a common sense move if it comes off, it's not a good move in reality because we'd like John to stay but in business terms it's a good move because John has refused our last offer of a contract categorically, there's no turning back.

"His contract is set to run out, he'll be a free agent, he can then leave for nothing so I think it's good business, especially before deadline day which is in March anyway, so it doesn't give too long to sort a deal out. The deal is potentially £150,000 and a player in exchange."

Despite McMahon confirming his interest in Taylor, who is on the transfer list at Edgeley Park, he says he is still on the lookout for a more identical replacement for Brett Ormerod, who left Bloomfield Road for Southampton in a near £2 million deal earlier this season.

"Let me say he's not a direct replacement for Brett. Let's not get carried away, just because he's got pace, he's not a replacement for Brett. We are still looking for someone else to come in with pace and ability, it's still not over yet," he added.

Meanwhile, Blackpool have handed a trial to former Torquay defender Jimmy Aggrey. Click here for more.