Rams closing in on Savage

Rams closing in on Savage

Rams boss Paul Jewell continues his transfer window negotiations and try and attract players to a side struggling in the Premier ship at the moment, and this isn`t going to be easy.

Jewell has said he has spoken to Blackburn Rovers about signing midfielder Robbie Savage if the clubs can agree a fee.

The 33-year-old Savage has been left out of Rovers’ squad for the last three games, including the game against the Rams last week. But the Ewood Park club have already rejected an offer from Sunderland and Steve Bruce at Wigan is also interested in the former Welsh international.

‘I’d like to have Robbie, and I’ve spoken to Blackburn, but whether we can do it is out of my hands,’ said Jewell.

‘We’ve not yet agreed a fee, so it’s up to the chairman if we can do a deal.’

Savage has struggled to hold a first team spot for Rovers recently and is competing with Steven Reid, Aaron Mokoena and Tugay for a place in middle of the park.

Savage who joined Rovers from Birmingham in 2005 for £3 million has played 76 times for the Lancashire club and Rovers boss Mark Hughes says he is in no rush to sell him and would be happy to keep him at Ewood Park despite additional reported interest from Wigan.

‘Robbie wants to play week-in, week-out and I can’t guarantee that,’ said Hughes.

‘If a situation arises that I feel will benefit us and Robbie is comfortable with that decision and wants to do it, we’ll look at it. But no-one is forcing Robbie Savage out of the club. He knows that.

‘It’s well documented Sunderland have expressed an interest, although up to now they have not met our valuation of Robbie.’

The Rams are in a perilous position on the table but Jewell said he believed he could convince Savage to make the move.

‘Robbie is a player I like, and I am interested in. I’d like to bring someone of his character to Derby,’ he said.

‘When I came here, I did so not just for this season, but for the seasons beyond.

‘That’s what I’ll be trying to sell because when you walk through the doors here you get the sense it’s a really impressive football club, especially when you see 30,000 at Pride Park.

‘They’re not empty promises because the infrastructure is there and that’s a start.

‘I’ve players in mind that I want to bring in that will hopefully take the club to another level.’