Blues reject three bids for Easter (From Bucks Free Press)

Blues reject three bids for Easter

9:23am Friday 2nd February 2007

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WANDERERS turned down three transfer deadline day bids for top scorer Jermaine Easter, the Bucks Free Press can reveal.

The Blues also failed with a swoop for Torquay striker Jamie Ward, who opted to join Chesterfield instead because it is nearer to his Birmingham home.

Blues boss Paul Lambert was disappointed to lose out on Northern Ireland U21 international Ward but delighted to keep hold of 20-goal Easter.

The club turned down three undisclosed bids because none matched their valuation of the 25-year-old who has just been called into the Welsh squad for their match in Northern Ireland next week.

Chairboys managing director Steve Hayes said yesterday: "We had three verbal bids all from higher league clubs which we rejected. They were all tempting but they didn't really meet our match and Jermaine has made it clear to us that he wants to stay and gain promotion.

"He has just broken into the Welsh squad, he's been bombarded by agents and the press and his first thought was that he wanted to stay and we were chuffed with his attitude."

Premiership trio Manchester City, Blackburn and Watford were all reportedly interested alongside Championship duo Burnley and Norwich City.

But a move for Easter, who has 18 months left on his contract, could still happen in the summer.

Hayes revealed that Wanderers are still talking to clubs about him.

Lambert is pleased to have Easter in the squad for tomorrow's trip to Wrexham.

He said: "I'm delighted that at this minute he's staying. It's vital that you try and keep your best players and Jermaine has scored an awful lot of goals for us.

"There was always that feeling of trepidation that someone might come in and take him."

The gaffer refused to disclose the size of the bids, or the identity of the clubs they came from, but said: "It wasn't enough. It did not tempt me."

He insists that the signing of Scott McGleish from Northampton last week was not done as an insurance policy in case they lost Easter.

He said: "We brought Scott in because he's a proven goalscorer and there's no doubt that all three can play together."

But the boss was disappointed to miss out on the £100,000-rated Ward. Wanderers had a bid accepted by Torquay but he decided to join Chesterfield after talking to both clubs.

Blues are also trying to do a deal with another unnamed player who they are hoping to bring in on loan with a view to a permanent signing.

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