Del in a bidding war for United defender

Jul 3 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

DEREK McInnes yesterday warned he won’t be held to ransom by Dundee United as he tracks a new left-back.

The St Johnstone boss has made the position a top priority.

And he admits 22-year-old former Gretna defender Danny Grainger is among his targets.

But the Tannadice club could price him out of the market, with Saints valuing the player around the £30,000 mark.

Yesterday, McInnes said: “We have made an inquiry about Danny but I don’t see it happening.

“He is a player who interests me but if we can’t agree a fee we will have to move on.

“Any transfer fee has to be weighed up carefully by a club like this. Indications at the moment are that the fee United want is beyond us.”

It’s shaping-up as a poker game and United manager Craig Levein said: “Saints have made a bid which we have rejected and we will have to wait and see if they come in with another one. We aren’t really looking to sell Danny. I’d be happy if he was still part of the squad for the new season.”

McInnes missed out on Richie Foran at Inverness Caley Thistle and he is also being linked with Partick Thistle’s 22-year-old full-back Marc Twaddle.