League Two newcomers Grimsby Town could be set to make a move for Portsmouth veteran Ben Davies after the 35-year-old turned down a new deal at Fratton Park, reports BBC Radio Humberside.
Davies, whose wife Lisa is from the Grimsby area, has rejected a new deal at Pompey, according to the Portsmouth News.
And that could open the door for Grimsby boss Paul Hurst, who is in the market for a full back following the departure of Richard Tait.
Speaking to Radio Humberside, the Mariners’ chief said: “Ben Davies is a good player.
“I think he won player of the year at Portsmouth.
“I would be interested in him but Pompey are an extremely big club and they have offered him a new deal.
“I have not spoke to him but may do if the opportunity arises.”
Davies made his name as a midfielder with Chester, Shrewsbury, Notts County, Derby and Sheffield United, but last season starred at right back for Portsmouth.
He made 51 appearances in all competitions and scooped eight trophies at the club’s awards’ night.
The player had previously told the Portsmouth News:
“The gaffer wants to keep me and now it’s a case of what the club are going to come up with and seeing where we go from there.
“People look at your age but when you get older your actions speaker louder than words and I have been available for every game for the gaffer to pick me.
“I have proven I can play regularly. With the energy I’ve brought it is not a case of standing around at right-back, I like to bomb on.
“I think I easily have another three or four years ahead of me so it’s about where the club sees me fitting in with them next year.
“Pompey have been brilliant for me, I have loved every minute turning out in front of these fans. It is the most I have enjoyed my football for as long as I can remember.
“My little ’un starts school in September and I need to be planning where my family want to be. But I will move heaven and earth to stay down here and play for this club again next year.
“When I came last summer I didn’t sign the best deal in the world. I had been on trial and the club said it was more of a squad deal and rightly so, that is what they saw me as.
“But I have done more than that now, I have been a regular starter in the first-team – yet am still on the same deal as a squad player.
“It is now a case of sitting down with them again and finding out whether they are going to offer me a squad deal once more or a deal where I play every week.
“I am desperate to stay, I have said all along I would love to stay, I would sign for as long as they want me.
“Hopefully we can get it sorted.”
