Raith Rovers have slapped a £100,000 price tag on Dundee United target Lewis Toshney.
On Thursday night the Stark’s Park outfit announced they’d turned down two bids from their Championship rivals for the versatile 24-year-old.
Both were of five figures and the Tele understands although the clubs are still talking, Raith’s stance right now is they want six figures before they’ll consider letting him go.
As much as manager Ray McKinnon wants to team up with the defender-cum-midfielder again, that’s not a price he is going to meet.
He resurrected the former Celtic kid’s career when he took him to Raith from part-time football with Cowdenbeath this time last year.
In Ray’s year in charge, Toshney was one of the stars as the team performed beyond expectations to reach the Premiership play-offs. And one of his last acts as manager in Fife was to secure him on a new one-year deal.
That’s why it comes as no surprise that, as they prepare for a Championship campaign, United have moved for him.
It’s also understood the Tangerines are unhappy over Raith’s decision to go public about their bids.
The were happy to keep the matter confidential and feel it being put in the public domain has put unnecessary pressure on the player.
Meanwhile, new signing Cammy Bell has revealed the work the manager put in at Raith was a big factor in his decision to join him at United.
As a Rangers player, Bell got the chance to watch Raith at close quarters last term and was impressed by what he saw.
“You can see what he did with the resources and facilities he had at Raith, and that’s no disrespect to them,” he said.
“They had a really good team last season and great unity in the dressing-room.
“You could see that when they were out on the pitch.
“So they were a strong side last season and I think that was probably due largely to the manager and the coaching staff he’s brought here.
“I have met them all and they are as hungry as him.”
After a day largely taken up with fitness testing on Thursday, the United squad got down to serious work as pre-season training continued in St Andrews on Friday.
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