DETERMINED David Sheepshanks has not given up on Ipswich Town's fight to land striker Francis Jeffers, even though Blackburn Rovers have rejected an initial bid from them.

By Derek Davis

DETERMINED David Sheepshanks has not given up on Ipswich Town's fight to land striker Francis Jeffers, even though Blackburn Rovers have rejected an initial bid from them.

The Blues chairman has not been deterred and is considering tabling a second and final bid, after Rovers chairman John Williams confirmed they are holding out for more cash for the former Arsenal and Everton striker, whom they are willing to sell.

Williams said: “We have had an offer from Ipswich and Francis is keen to go there, but it's not at a level we deem to be acceptable at the moment.

“We have said that we are prepared to let Francis go, but Ipswich will have to meet our valuation of him.”

Blackburn have an inflated valuation of the player and want £1million for him, which is out of Town's reach.

Derby County's Billy Davies is a known admirer of Jeffers and may be willing to pay the full asking price, especially if they win their play-off final against West Brom next Monday and are promoted to the Premiership.

But the Blues are determined to land the player, who has made it clear he would prefer a move to Portman Road and, with a year left on his Ewood Road contract, does not have to move.

Sheepshanks last night said: “Blackburn have put an unaccountably high price on Jeffers, but we are still hopeful an agreement can be reached.”

Disappointing from Ipswich's point of view is that Blackburn picked up Jeffers on a free transfer from Arsenal but were happy to let him go out on loan, as he was well down Mark Hughes' pecking order of strikers.

The indications were he could leave on a free transfer, or for a nominal fee, before he did so well at Portman Road. The 26-year-old scored four times in nine appearances, despite a break with a hamstring injury, and that alerted other clubs.