Derbyshire are bidding to sign former England limited overs captain Paul Collingwood from Durham.
The vice-captain of the north-east county has one year to run on his contract, though it is unclear whether the offer an extension is forthcoming.
It is understood that Durham are reluctant to let the player be released from his contract and Collingwood’s agent Neil Fairbrother has hinted that the 35-year-old is settled in his home county and is not looking to leave.
However, the offer of a lengthy deal from Derbyshire and the chance to extend his playing career may appeal to Collingwood, who recently quit international Test cricket and no longer benefits from an English Cricket Board central contract.
Derbyshire have formally tabled a one-month notice period in order to speak to the player and under new chairman Chris Grant are looking to recruit heavily to lift them from the lower reaches of the County Championship Division Two.
Sports betting pundits note how Collingwood is thought to fit the bill for Derbyshire as he is no longer tied to time consuming commitments with England.
He retired from Test cricket in January following England’s Ashes series victory in Australia and has fallen out of favour with selectors in the limited overs game since the World Cup.
He has lost the England Twenty20 captaincy to Stuart Broad and it is widely thought that England will no longer pick the player in One Day Internationals or T20s as they look to rebuild a side that has faltered in recent months.
Collingwood is England’s most capped cricketer in the 50-over version of the game, as well their leading run scorer.
He recently agreed a contract with Perch Scorchers, who compete in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash tournament.
However, the tournament does not begin until the Australian summer of 2011/12 and will not hinder any club commitments in the UK.
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