Derby County: Alex Baptiste wage demands "eye-watering"

Derby County have admitted defeat in the pursuit of free agent Alex Baptiste, due to the player's wage demands.

Baptiste's contract runs out next month, which has alerted a number of Championship sides. However, Derby's chief executive Sam Rush said that the signing would not make sense financially.

"He is someone that we asked about," the Derby Telegraph quotes Rush as saying.

"I spoke to his agent and with the best will in the world, the money he was asking for was eye-watering. I don't think many clubs in our division could afford him.

"There is a difference between ambition and bad management. I don't think Derby fans would have thanked me for bringing him in on that kind of money."

Bolton Wanderers are favourites to land the centre-back.