Derby County make Steven Davies available for transfer

Derby County striker Steven Davies has turned down the offer of an extended contract for "family reasons" and has been made available for transfer.

Derby's joint leading scorer with 12 goals this term has a year left on his deal, but rejected an extra two years.

"It is a genuine family reason," Rams boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby. "But we are not in the position where we will let contracts run out.

"We will see if we can get as good a fee as possible and then replace him."

Davies impressed with 12 goals in 27 matches during a season which saw him sidelined for 12 weeks with a fractured skull.

Clough added: "It's not through our choice. We offered him a new deal and it's nothing to do with financial reasons.

"It's purely family circumstances. People will be sceptical about that but they shouldn't be and we respect him for that and move on.

"We will try to replace him. And someone will maybe need to step up as well. But we will certainly need to bring in a striker.

"Looking at the strikers for next season we have Theo Robinson, Nathan Tyson, Callum Ball, Mason Bennett and Jamie Ward as an option as well.

"Ideally we would have liked to have brought a striker in anyway and kept Steven as well, but we cannot do that so will step up the search."