Derby move to keep Rowett

Derby County are in talks with manager Gary Rowett over a new contract, as Stoke City consider the 43-year-old as Mark Hughes’s successor.

Rowett is in negotiations over an improved deal after guiding Derby to second place in the Championship just 10 months after he was appointed.

Stoke have identified the former Birmingham City manager as a leading contender to replace Hughes, along with Martin O’neill, the Republic of Ireland manager.

But Derby are accelerating talks over Rowett’s contract amid interest from the Premier League strugglers, while they are also determined to reject any approach. Rowett’s contract has 18 months to run.

Telegraph Sport understands it would require a figure of around £1.7 million in compensation to prise Rowett out of Pride Park.

O’neill is another potential candidate and is thought to be interested in returning to club football after nearly five years with the Ireland team.

Links to Ryan Giggs have been completely dismissed by sources at the bet365 Stadium. Hughes was dismissed on Saturday, less than three hours after the 2-1 defeat by Coventry City in the FA Cup.

Ryan Shawcross, the captain, said: “Mark Hughes has been a huge part of a great story over the last few years. Some of the performances we produced under him were fantastic, obviously the 6-1 win over Liverpool springs to mind as well as finishing in ninth place in the Premier League three years in succession.

“Ultimately, though, the manager knows that it is a results-driven business and, unfortunately, he has lost his job because of the way things have gone this season.”