Dundee United plan to cash in on Johnny Russell

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson intends to sell striker Johnny Russell over the summer to benefit the club.

The 23-year-old has one year left on his deal and bids from Derby County and Catania have already been rejected.

"Johnny won't renew or extend his contract," said Thompson. "We've been told that by his agent.

"So it's a situation where we've got to look after and protect the club at the end of the day, which means that we should be selling him in the summer."

United rejected repeated offers from Serie A outfit Catania, with Russell saying he would like to move overseas should he be sold on.

And three Championship clubs are tracking in the forward, who knocked in 20 goals this season, with one of them tabling a bid.

"We've decided to keep things private and not name clubs," explained Thompson.

"One did come out a number of weeks ago, which was from Italy, and we turned that down.

"There has been an English club who has made a bid. It's not quite what we'd like and others have spoken to us, but I will not say anything more."

Championship outfit Huddersfield Town had a £1.25m double bid for Russell and winger Gary Mackay-Steven rejected by United in August.

Sheffield United subsequently had an offer for Russell, who is a product of United's youth system, rebuffed in January.

United have already lost one striker this summer, with long-serving captain Jon Daly joining Rangers.

Meanwhile, full-back Barry Douglas has completed a move to Polish club Lech Poznan and midfielder Willo Flood is also out of contract.

However, manager Jackie McNamara has signed striker Brian Graham from Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle midfield duo Chris Erskine and Paul Paton will be at Tannadice next season.