Friday 23 January 2015 10:31, UK
Birmingham City have rejected a third bid from Sky Bet Championship rivals Bournemouth for winger Demarai Gray, according to Sky sources.
The bid is believed to have included a £3m down-payment plus £500,000 in add-ons, a significant increase in the Cherries' previous offers for the 18-year-old.
But Birmingham are keen to hold on to their exciting Academy product, who was named the Football League's Young Player of the Month for December after scoring a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Reading.
As well as Eddie Howe, Gray has plenty of admirers in the Premier League with Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle reportedly among interested parties.
Meanwhile, Birmingham have allowed defender Neal Eardley to join Leyton Orient on a month's loan.
Eardley has struggled with injury over the last two seasons and has made only six appearances this season, just one of those since the middle of October when he was sent off against Blackburn.
