BRISTOL City manager Derek McInnes has dismissed rumours that the south west club are rivals to Ipswich Town for the signature of Derby County striker Steve Davies.

Blues boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that he would like to bring the 24-year-old to Portman Road, but recently insisted that Rams counter-part Nigel Clough would have to lower his valuation of the player if any move were to materialise.

It’s understood that Jewell – who brought the player to Derby in 2008 – will not pay more than �500,000, while Derby value the front man at nearer �1m.

Reports surfaced recently that Championship rivals Bristol City could hijack a deal, but speaking to the Bristol Evening Post following a 2-0 pre-season friendly win at Dunfermline last night, McInnes said: “Steve Davies is one we are aware of, but he is not the type of striker we require right now. There has been no contact with Derby and we have definitely not made an offer.”

Davies has made no secret of the fact that he wants to move nearer his London-based family, with Derby having transfer listed him after he turned down a new deal this summer. The striker – who has scored 23 goals during four injury-hit seasons at Pride Park – has just one year left on his current contract.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Bristol City have had a �1.5m bid accepted by West Ham for striker Sam Baldock.

Jewell confirmed earlier this year that he was considered a move for the 23-year-old during the January transfer window, but was priced out of a move when the Hammers paid MK Dons a reported fee of �1.65m for his signature.

The Green’Un understands that Jewell spoke to West Ham boss Sam Allardyce about a potential season-long loan deal earlier this summer.

However, with the front man now well down the pecking order following the Hammers’ promotion to the Premier League and the arrival of several new strikers to Upton Park – with Liverpool’s Andy Carroll possibly to come – it appears as though Allardyce is more interested in a permanent sale rather than a temporary switch.

And considering Jewell’s strong stance on Davies’ valuation, the Blues boss insisting he ‘hasn’t got a bottomless pit of money’ to spend, it would seem unlikely that he will make a seven-figure bid for Baldock.

Jewell has made four signing this summer – keeper Scott Loach, defenders Elliott Hewitt and Luke Chambers and midfielder Massimo Luongo – but following pre-season defeats to lower level Luton Town and Southend United he reiterated his desire to add ‘at least two or three more’ to his ranks before the Championship opener against newly-relegated Blackburn Rovers on August 18.

And it’s a striker with physical presence which tops his most-wanted list.