Saints reject Derby £5million bid for Jones.
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Southampton have turned down a £5m bid from Derby for striker Kenwyne Jones, complaining that the bid "substantially undervalues" the player. The Rams returned with a second offer for Jones, after having an initial bid rejected last week.
Trinidad and Tobago international Jones hit 16 goals last season to help Southampton reach the Championship play-offs, where they were beaten by Derby in a semi-final penalty shootout. However, having already brought in over £8m from the sales of Gareth Bale and Chris Baird this summer, Saints manager George Burley is under no pressure to sanction further departures.
"A further unsolicited and unwelcome approach from Derby County for Kenwyne Jones has been rejected," read a Southampton statement. "George Burley sees Kenwyne playing a major role in Saints' push for promotion this season. Moreover, it is considered that Derby County's latest offer to pay a total of £5m for the player very substantially undervalues his ability and potential as a Premiership-quality striker in the making. The club hope the rejection of Derby's latest offer will now bring the matter to a close."
Southampton are understood to be unhappy with the manner of Derby's initial approach for Jones, although the club have yet to comment on whether they are considering taking further action. Burley reiterated his club's stance, insisting he is only interested in adding to his squad ahead of Saturday's opening game against Crystal Palace. "I am still looking for a couple more players because we are not quite there yet," he said.
Rams Boss: why I'm so keen to add Kenwyne to my strike force.
By: Steve Nicholson (Derby Telegraph).
Billy Davies has outlined why Derby County are prepared to break their club record transfer fee to land striker Kenwyne Jones. Southampton say they have turned down an offer of £5m for the 22-year-old and do not want to sell the Trinidad & Tobago international.
But the Rams, who paid Norwich City a club-record £3.5m for Robert Earnshaw earlier this summer, are still hoping to negotiate a deal for Jones.
Davies is facing a race against time to increase the firepower of his side before the transfer window closes at the end of this month. He says Derby need another two or three options in attack to help them cope in the Premier League.
Jones is his number one target and Davies believes the striker is a real handful for defenders.
"He a young player of good goalscoring ability, great pace and stature," said the manager.
"When you play against teams you see players and take note. Certain players make you nervous and worry you when your teams faces them and Kenwyne is one of those players.
"He's a handful, a major problem for defenders and it would be nice to have him at Derby."
Jones is 6ft 2in tall, strong and athletic. He could have been a cricketer or an athlete but his dream was to play football in England.
His career started with FC Joe Public in Trinidad and he also played for W Connection before joining Southampton three years ago.
He went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City in 2004-5 but made his mark at Southampton last season when he scored 14 goals in the Championship, helping Saints to reach the play-offs.
Derby already have strikers Steve Howard Jon Macken, Earnshaw and Craig Fagan but Davies feels Jones will bring something different. The Rams boss also has forwards Jon Stead of Sheffield United and Manchester City's Darius Vassell in his sights.
"Kenwyne is one of many we are looking to bring in to give us a chance of competing at this level," said Davies.
"We have to add to the squad, we have to try to conclude one or two deals very quickly because of the length of time we have left before the window closes. We have identified our targets and now it is crucial to get value for money.
"It's time to put our foot on the gas."
The first task facing Davies last season was to make Derby difficult to beat and he did so.
Now he says more firepower is needed to finish teams off.
"This is crucial in the Premier League because you may only get one chance in a game," he added.
"At this stage last year, we had to build a squad for a three-year plan.
"We won promotion and now we are starting again - and it is a very different ball game.
"We are building a team again but we are at a different level and in a different marketplace. The competition is huge. We are in the best league in the world.
"When you start to build a team, the balance is crucial.
"In some instances you have to go and find good, young talent. Players with a great future ahead of them, players who are excellent value for money, and players you can progress and improve. Kenwyne Jones comes into that bracket.
"On the other side of that, you have to be prepared to take on experienced players who maybe don't have the same value and type of future as regards progression but who have the experience to play in the Premier League and can keep the younger players calm and doing the right things at the right time.
"So getting the right balance between spending on young players and quality experienced players is crucial."
