Merson closing on targets

Paul Merson is looking at Chester duo Ryan Lowe and Ben Davies amongst others.

The Saddlers have been linked with a plethora of players over recent days after selling top scorer Matty Fryatt to Leicester City.

And top of Merson's shopping list is Lowe - widely regarded as one of the brightest talents in the Football League.

Davies also features highly on the Walsall boss's priorities, as does Sheffield Wednesday discard Lee Peacock.

He is still hopeful of signing Watford's Paul Devlin, although rumours that Julian Joachim was headed back to The Bescot have been scotched by Boston United.

Another player to have been linked with The Saddlers in recent days is Dean Keates, who has handed in a transfer request at Lincoln City.

Joe Broad, meanwhile, has left the club by mutual consent.

The 23-year-old has failed to break into The Saddlers' first team on a regular basis since joining in the summer of 2004, and has spent the majority of this season on loan at non-league Redditch.

Broad, who made a total of 15 appearances for Walsall, several as substitute, will now try and secure a deal elsewhere.

Midfielder Kris Taylor, meanwhile, has been loaned out to Conference side Burton Albion for the rest of the season.