Santos likely to replace Clarke
By Raoul Simons, Evening Standard
22 July 2004
Ian Holloway is keen on signing out-of-favour Ipswich defender George Santos. The centre-half is surplus to requirements at Portman Road and the Queens Park Rangers manager views him as a potential replacement for Clarke Carlisle, who has joined Leeds.
Holloway said: "I would love to sign a player like Santos. He is just the sort of player we need. Of all the players we have been linked with, he is the most likely."
However, looking less likely is the capture of Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp after the club rejected a formal offer for the 19-year-old. Derby director of football Murdo Mackay said: "The bid doesn't meet our valuation."
Meanwhile, Rangers were beaten 1-0 by an understrength Ajax team at Loftus Road last night.
The Dutch champions were without all their Euro 2004 representatives but emerged victorious through Rasmus Lindgren's second-half header.
Kevin Gallen has QPR’s best chance but his low shot was well saved.
COSTLY TALK BY STEVE NICHOLSON
22 July 2004 This is Derbyshire
The indications are that Queens Park Rangers still want to sign Camp despite having a first offer for the 19-year-old England Youth international rejected.
"We are still hopeful that a deal is there to be done," said QPR chairman Bill Power.
Camp impressed during his loan spell with QPR last season. He had a taste of first-team football and success, helping the London club clinch promotion from Division Two.
He enjoyed his stay and became a hit with team-mates and supporters at Loftus Road.
Burley says QPR's offer for Camp was "definitely not acceptable".
"This is all very unsettling for the boy. He is at Derby, has two years left on his contract and is a young keeper with bags of potential," added Burley.
"I have an open mind about every position in the team, and that starts with the goalkeeper.
"We have three good keepers, two young ones in Lee Grant and Lee Camp, and an experienced one in Andy Oakes.
"What I need is for all the players to be fully focused on trying to get into the team."
One of the trio of Rams keepers is likely to leave, and at the moment Camp is the favourite if QPR can reach a deal.
Burley also insists that nothing should be read into the appearance of last season's number one Grant in the Reserve game against Stoke City at Rocester last night.
Grant was in action again as the battle for the first-team gloves becomes more interesting by the day.
"We are rotating the keepers during the pre-season games, just as we are the outfield positions, before we make decisions on who should start the season - that's what pre-season is for," said Burley.
Grant played against Norwegian club Kongsvinger, Camp in the Team Halden match and Oakes against West Bromwich in the Bass Vase defeat on Monday.
It was Grant's turn again last night, indicating that Camp will line up against Chesterfield in Saturday's Derbyshire FA Centenary Cup match at Saltergate.
Oakes, who was placed on the transfer list at the end of last season, appears to be back in the frame at Derby.
A number of clubs have shown an interest in him and are keeping an eye on the situation.
Burnley look unlikely to follow up their initial interest in central defender David Walton, who played a friendly for the Lancashire club at the weekend.
Ex-Rams defender Con Blatsis is on trial with Coventry City during their tour of Germany.
Blatsis, 27, has had spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester United, Turkish side Koceali Spor and Irish club St Patrick's Athletic.
The Rams say they have sold 15,079 season tickets for the new campaign, compared with 12,500 at this stage last year.