EXCLUSIVE: Doncaster Rovers reject further bid for Ben Whiteman from South Yorkshire rivals

Barnsley submitted a flurry of bids for the Rovers skipper earlier in the summer but were knocked back on each occasion.

And in recent days the Reds have also seen a further improved offer rejected by Rovers.

Chief executive Gavin Baldwin has previously told the Free Press that it would take an ‘exceptional offer’ to tempt Rovers into selling the midfielder, who is contracted to the club until 2023.

It is understood that there is no specific release clause in Whiteman’s contract that would trigger a bid being accepted.

However, the club have pledged to keep the 24-year-old informed of any interest and will take into consideration his views on the situation.

A portion of any transfer fee would be owed to Sheffield United due to a sell-on clause which was included in the deal which saw Whiteman move across South Yorkshire in January 2018.

Rovers are keen that any received fee would enable boss Darren Moore to hunt for a suitable replacement for a midfielder who has developed into one of the very best in his position at League One level.

With the bids lodged so far, they have not been satisfied that would be the case.

A ‘significant seven figure bid’ from Hull City was rejected out of hand last summer but interest in Whiteman has only grown since after another impressive campaign for Rovers.

Speaking on Thursday of interest in Whiteman, Moore said: “We have had one or two sniffs for Ben and at the moment, the situation for those seeking Ben Whiteman has not been appealing to us because we value Ben very, very highly.

"Ben knows our thoughts towards him so we keep the working relationship open and transparent and we keep working.

"That openness and transparency is something I have always had with the players.

"At the moment, there will be interest in him and we have got some good players here. I get it and understand it, but at the moment, it is nothing that would be appealing to us as a football club."

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