Houston hopeful£2m man Russell will stay

DUNDEE UNITED have conf irmed they will be looking for nothing less than £2 million for star striker Johnny Russell today.

The Tangerines still have Russell on their books as the final day of the transfer window arrives despite intense interest being shown in the player.

Manager Peter Houston has a team to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park tomorrow in mind and it includes the Scotland under21 international, but he will have to resort to Plan B should there be a sale before the midnight deadline.

United have revealed what they want for their prize asset.

A club spokesman said last night: “Further to numerous inquiries regarding Johnny Russell, Dundee United have stated it is a minimum £2m transfer fee required for the player.

“The club feel many different parties have tried to be involved in a possible transfer and would now like to state its position.”

With Huddersfield Town having sold free-scoring Scotland frontman Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth £8m yesterday, they have money to spend and are one of those who have asked about Russell.

Reports from Yorkshire suggest they value Russell at only about £1m, however, which Tangerines.

Other clubs linked with the player include Everton, Celtic, Blackburn themselves, Derby and Bolton, so chairman Stephen Thompson’s phone could be ringing throughout the day.

Manager Houston has asked to be involved only when a concrete proposal comes in for Russell.

“There are no official bids in for Johnny yet although there are people sniffing about, I believe,” said Houston.

“The chairman has been dealing with it rather than me and what I have said to him is to let me know when there is an official bid in and not before. There is no point in me concerning myself with speculation.

“If someone puts a bid in which is accepted as suitable to the club then I will have to accept that. That is the way it is in Scottish football.

“I hope there won’t be and as we speak there hasn’t been anything official.”

One of United’s other star turns, Gary Mackay-Steven, is now recuperating after undergoing clean-up knee surgery on Tuesday.

“Gary has come through the operation well and he is feeling all right,” Houston said.

“It was a wee bit worse than we thought it was before he went in and it will still take six weeks minimum before we get him back.”

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United have slapped a £2million tag on Johnny Russell.