Sky Sports News understands that Kilmarnock have rejected a £425,000 offer from Derby for Conor Sammon.
Rams fail in £425k offer for Irishman
Sky Sports News understands that Kilmarnock have rejected a £425,000 offer from Derby County for star striker Conor Sammon.
The Rams are keen to bolster their attacking options having recently sold Kris Commons to Celtic and targeted the free-scoring Irishman.
Sammon has been scintillating form for Mixu Paatelainen's troops with 15 SPL goals to his name this season.
However, despite previously accepting an offer for Scunthorpe for his services, they have now rebuffed Derby's move.
Ambition
Paatelainen does not want to stand in Sammon's way if he wants to further his career although he would be equally delighted if the striker stays.
"There's been figures mentioned and talked about and stuff. The clubs haven't agreed yet, but we still have plenty of time," he told
Sky Sports News.
"If the agreement is not found then great Connor stays here and hopefully he keeps banging in the goals like he's done recent on a consistent basis.
"Either way if he goes it's good for Connor. He deserves it because he's a hard-working player with plenty of ability. Both ways we're quite happy."
Departures
Meanwhile, Paatelainen has been trimming his squad after releasing Alan Combe, Graeme Owens and Danny Invincible.
The trio have played a combined total of over 300 games for the Rugby Park club, but the Finnish tactician has deemed them surplus to requirements.
Goalkeeper Combe joined from Bradford City in 2004 and enjoyed a positive start before injuries and the emergence of Cameron Bell saw him fall out of favour.
Owens, still just 22, is yet to kick a ball this season and his stay with the SPL club has been a disappointing one having signed from Middlesbrough on a two-year deal.
Australian Invincible netted 37 goals in 224 appearances for Killie after arriving from Swindon back in 2003.
Kilmarnock have added Benjamin Laurant from Le Havre, Billy Berntsson from Sundsvall and Willy Aubameyang from AC Milan to their squad in the transfer window.
