BLACKBURN ROVERS boss Owen Coyle has confirmed the club have rejected two bids from Newcastle United for their captain Grant Hanley.
The Scotland international defender, 24, has made 200 appearances for Blackburn since 2010 and has attracted interest after another impressive season at Ewood Park.
He missed just two Championship games last term and Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is hoping the ex-Rangers youngster will shore up his defensive options.
Rovers are reluctant to sell and Coyle, who took over as manager last month, says the bids they have received so far, of £3.5m and £4.5m, are well short of the club’s expectations.
“For me, that is nowhere near the valuation of Grant Hanley,” Coyle told BBC Radio Lancashire. “We don’t want to lose him, we’re not trying to sell him and nobody here is saying ‘bring me bids’.
“I can’t stop other clubs from admiring our players because I do it with other clubs myself. I’ve seen the other day I think Newcastle were at £35m for Moussa Sissoko, and he is an outstanding player, but please don’t then offer me £4.5m for Grant.”
