Saints turn down Jones Ram-raid
Kenwyne Jones scored 15 times for Southampton last season
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Tuesday, 07, Aug 2007 11:50
Southampton have rejected out-of-hand a £5 million bid from newly-promoted Derby County for striker Kenywne Jones.
A spokesperson for the south coast club said that the approach was "unsolicited and unwelcome" and that it represented a "further" enquiry about the 22-year-old.
"It is considered that Derby County's latest offer to pay a total of £5 million for the player very substantially undervalues his ability and potential as a Premiership-quality striker in-the-making," the representative said on the Saints website.
"The club hopes that its rejection of Derby's latest offer will now bring this matter to a close."
Jones, a seasoned international with Trinidad and Tobago, moved to Southampton in the summer of 2004 and spent spells out on loan with Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday in his first season at the club.
But after cementing his place in George Burley's starting line-up last season the forward has become an integral part of the team, scoring 15 goals in Saints' unsuccessful push for promotion to the Premiership.
Derby boss Billy Davies has been busy in the transfer market during the close-season as he looks to prepare his Championship play-off winners for the top flight.
Claude Davis arrived from Sheffield United in a £3 million move, Wales striker Robert Earnshaw moved from Norwich for £3.5 million and Tyrone Mears' long-term loan deal was made permanent for £1 million.
Andy Griffin and Andy Todd have also moved to Pride Park on free transfers this summer but it appears that Derby have still not finished their pre-season spending.