BLACKPOOL manager Ian Holloway has praised the attitude of defender Shaun Barker, who is a transfer target for Derby County.

Barker is wanted by the Rams, who are planning to make a new offer for the 26-year-old having had a bid of £400,000 rising to £500,000 rejected.

Blackpool are believed to be willing to accept somewhere between £750,000 and £1m.

Holloway wants to keep the centre-back and is delighted at the way Barker has put the distractions to the back of his mind.

"He was fantastic in training, he is a fantastic lad – and you don't get them cheap and you don't get them easy," said Holloway.

"The club have worked with him over the last few years to make him what he is now and he knows that.

"There is a great respect between me and between him, and him for the club as well.

"Somewhere along the line, we are all going to benefit.

"I don't need to be assured that Shaun's happy. He has signed a contract and put very, very simply, he belongs to us.

"He is a very professional lad and he is going to play well for us – and he needs to play well right now because we have actually shown our hand and said 'yes, you can have him for X amount'.

"Now they haven't come back with that and if they don't, Shaun will have to deal with that, because the length of contract is the key."

Derby are also expected to up their offer for Crewe Alexandra defender John Brayford.

Rams boss Nigel Clough is keen to add the 21-year-old to his squad, having worked with the player at Burton Albion.

Brayford has started pre-season training with Crewe, whose manager Gudjon Thordarson, said: "There has been nothing new from Derby.

"I don't know if they are going to summit an offer or not.

"As far as I am concerned, it has gone quiet and John is still with us and training well."