Burnley set to miss out on Jason Shackell (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley set to miss out on Jason Shackell

9:50am Saturday 23rd June 2012 in Football By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter

BURNLEY manager Eddie Howe may be forced to review his summer transfer targets, with Jason Shackell looking increasingly likely to remain at Derby County.

For the second time in a year the Clarets have made attempts to lure the experienced defender to Turf Moor, but again look set to suffer disappointment.

Last summer Clarets boss Howe actively pursued the then Barnsley captain but Championship rivals Derby won the bidding at just over £1million in June.

Just 12 months into his three-year deal it came as a surprise that the Rams seemed initially prepared to listen to offers for the 28-year-old.

The Pride Park outfit insisted they were under no pressure to sell, but it was thought they would need to acquire funds if manager Nigel Clough wished to make any summer purchases.

However, since the 2011/12 season ended Derby have turned down four offers from three different clubs – with two of those offers believed to be from Burnley.

It is understood that the highest of those bids would have enabled the Rams to more or less break even on the Shackell deal.

Although they have not entirely ruled out the possibility of their current captain moving on, with defender and regular skipper Shaun Barker already sidelined for the whole of next season with a serious knee injury – added to Derby’s resistance – it seems Shackell is expected to stay put.

Derby County chief executive Tom Glick said: “We’ve turned down four bids from three different clubs on Jason at this point.

“Simply put, Jason is an essential player for us. He played every minute of every game and it’s no surprise we’ve had interest in him, from more than those three clubs, too.

“He’s a top player in the Championship and a leader for us, so it would take a lot to pry him away from Derby.”

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