Curtis Davies has responded to transfer speculation linking him with a move to Bristol City by remaining coy, although suggested there has been no contract offer on the table.
The veteran Derby defender was linked with a move to Ashton Gate last month with his contract at the Rams expiring at the end of the month.
Davies, 37, is still thought to be in negotiations with Derby to stay on at the crisis-club although that appears less likely after Chris Kirchner's takeover bid appeared to collapse having failed to provide evidence of funds.
Bristol Live understood that Davies was just one of the names on the shortlist as Nigel Pearson looked to bolster his central defence. That was before a deal to land Luton's Player of the Season Kal Naismith was announced two weeks ago, with Timm Klose then signing a new contract the following week.
Depending on the futures of Robbie Cundy, Tomas Kalas and Nathan Baker, another defender could be on the agenda for the Bristol City manager and the experience of Davies could be eyed as an attractive proposition, particularly with the player likely to demand relatively modest wages.
Davies, who has also been rumoured to return to former club Hull City, was quizzed on his future during an appearance on talkSPORT on Thursday evening, in which he was asked about his future at Derby and elsewhere.
He responded: "It’s all, we call it fugazi like in Wolf of Wall Street. As much as there’s offers and potential talks, until you see a contract in front of you, it’s up in the dust as they say. It’s up in the clouds.
“These players might want to be there and players we haven’t got at the moment might want to sign for Derby County, but if you’re a free agent and you don’t see an offer how do you know a club wants you? It’s difficult to go on talk. The only reality is seeing a contract in front of you and being able to sign it."
When specifically quizzed if there was any truth in the reports linking him to Hull and Bristol City, Davies joked: "Umm, fugazi!”
Davies did go on to suggest he is looking to play at a Championship club next season having played in every minute of every game in Derby's relegation campaign last season.
Although he conceded he hasn't ruled out a reluctant retirement if a suitable offer doesn't come along, also opening himself to a move to his local club Leyton Orient.
He added: "It’s a heart and head moment. My heart is with the club (Derby.) It’s the longest I have ever been at a football club and the affinity I have with the fans is clear to see. But at my age, I have seen one of my best friends, Tom Huddlestone, a year out of football because he couldn’t get a club.
"And if anyone has watched Tom Huddlestone play, he’s a top, top player, so for him to have a year out of football at 34, I think he was, that’s a big ask, let alone at 37, so for me I might as well retire myself.
“If this summer retired me I would probably leave the game with bit of bitterness, and that’s not to say I probably could get a club. Of course, of some standard, yes, but I do have aspirations of what I want to do in the game and the only other club I’d be listening to is Leyton Orient, because Leyton Orient is my club. Richie Wellens is a friend of mine and he’s the manager so maybe I will end up at Orient.
“It’s the only thing that is on my list that I want to do before I retire, but my head now is I want to play as high as possible and at a level where I feel I can play and compete. So, ultimately, if those offers come then I’ll have to think about them.”
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