Coventry City are manning the battlements to fight off bids for their unsettled midfielder George Boateng, but it seems that once their valuation of the player is met, he will be on his way to another English club.

City’s chairman Bryan Richardson admitted that he had received three offers for the Dutchman but said none had matched his valuation of the player.

It is widely believed that Coventry would want £5 million for the 23 year old who cost them £250,000 from Dutch club Feyenoord eighteen months ago.

Aston Villa offered £3 million in March and since then Liverpool and Newcastle United have joined the bidding.

Richardson said:

"It is difficult when a player does not want to be with you next season. Three clubs have been in contact and made offers, but to date we have not received an offer we consider acceptable.

"If we don’t receive an offer we think is acceptable George will go nowhere. He will stay here and give 100 per cent."

Richardson said he had targeted a player to sign for Coventry but said:

"It is difficult completing transfers these days. Agents are involved and it is a much trickier process. But we are in strong contact with the club concerned, the player and his agent."

Meanwhile Coventry’s young Irish midfielder Willie Boland has surprised people at the club by turning down the chance of Scottish Premier League football to sign for Cardiff City.

Boland, who played seventy Premiership games for Coventry, rejected their latest contract offer and elected to move under the Bosman Ruling. He wanted regular first team football, which was not possible at Coventry where several players were ahead of him in the queue.

He was wanted by Dundee, but rejected a move north of the border.