Source: Northern_Echo
Magpies told to stop fishing for Perch
NOTTINGHAM Forest have rejected an offer for James Perch from Newcastle with Reds boss Billy Davies describing the bid as derisory.[LNB] Perch has only recently returned to first-team duty after being sidelined since last April with a stress fracture in his shin.[LNB] The 24-year-old has made four appearances since the turn of the year and has now been the subject of a bid from Forest's Coca-Cola Championship rivals.[LNB] Davies is not prepared to sell the defender and is unhappy that the details of Newcastle's failed offer have reached the public domain.[LNB] "We must be doing something right if other teams in our division want our players," Davies told the club's official website. "But we are looking to build a squad at the City Ground rather than dismantle one and James is not leaving.[LNB] "Newcastle's offer for someone we value so highly as a player and an individual was derisory and I'm disappointed it made it into the public domain. That's not our way of doing business."[LNB] Perch came through the ranks at the City Ground and has made more than 200 appearances for the East Midlands club.[LNB] Meanwhile, United hope to conclude a deal for Manchester United full-back Danny Simpson in the next 24 hours as manager Chris Hughton closes in on his first transfer window breakthrough.[LNB] It is understood the 23-year-old, who played the final game of his loan spell in Monday night's 2-2 Coca-Cola Championship draw with West Brom, is due to undergo a medical on Tyneside today.[LNB] However, neither the transfer deal nor his personal terms have yet been finalised and the relevant parties remain locked in talks.[LNB] Simpson has played a major role in Newcastle's rise to the top of the Championship table, where they stand three points clear of second-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.[LNB] He has made 22 appearances and his retention has been one of Hughton's main priorities this month.[LNB] Should the Magpies be able to push through a move, that would come as a boost after seeing top targets Jermaine Beckford and Matthew Kilgallon opt to stay with Leeds and Sheffield United respectively.[LNB] There were fears last week the deal might not be done after talks stalled, but there is now a new optimism on Tyneside they could get their man after all.[LNB]
