Derby boss Nigel Clough has suggested he would be reluctant to pay £1million for Blackpool defender Shaun Barker.
The Seasiders have already rejected one offer for Barker from the Rams, who are vying with local rivals Nottingham Forest for his signature.
Reports have claimed Derby are ready to increase their bid, but Clough is wary about paying over the odds for the 26-year-old.
"I'm not quite sure what the situation is with that one," Clough told the Derby Evening Telegraph.
"But I think £1million for a centre-half is an awful lot of money to pay, so we will have to see where that goes."
Chairman of football Adam Pearson, who has been re-elected to the board of the Football League, says there is no rush to conclude a deal for the locally-born Barker.
Pearson said: "He is a local lad and we hope that might be something that is important in terms of moving forward.
"There is no rush. It's only the middle of June.
"He's a player the manager has said that he likes and is a good centre-half at this level. But, as I say, we are in no rush and we will continue to monitor the situation."
