According to Le Parisien, Derby County and Stoke City have seen offers for St Etienne’s Harold Moukoudi turned down while West Bromwich Albion are also keen.
The French report claims St Etienne manager Claude Puel will not allow Moukoudi to leave this month as Championship clubs eye a deal for central defender.
Derby and Stoke have put forward loan offers without a purchase option. However, St Etienne have decided against a possible departure despite a lack of games.
Moukoudi, 22, has only started 11 league games this season. He has averaged 2.5 tackles and 3.8 clearances per game while maintaining an 86.8% pass-accuracy rate.
Both Derby and Stoke have been keen to bolster their defensive ranks this month The Championship duo have also been linked with Bournemouth’s Jack Simpson.
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Stoke are just four points clear of the drop zone prior to their weekend encounter with Swansea City. Derby, meanwhile, are nine points further ahead in 17th position.
The Rams are lacking numbers at the back. The sacking of Richard Keogh has left Curtis Davies, 34, and Brighton loanee Matt Clarke as first choice pairing.
Andre Wisdom and Craig Forsyth are fellow central defensive options. However, both have spent the majority of their careers to date playing as a fullback.
Moukoudi stands at 6ft 3inch. The former France U21 international is capped by Cameroon, making his senior debut for the African nation last October.
He is young, strong in the air and comfortable on the ball. He would be an ideal option for Derby, Stoke or West Brom who have hit a bad patch of form at the top of the table.
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