Giant centre-half Ben Futcher is believed to be top of the Shakers' shopping list this summer.

The 6ft 7ins defender is currently mulling over offers from Bury and Mansfield Town after being released by Peterborough at the end of last season.

Director of Football, Keith Alexander, is a known admirer of the Bradford-born player, who he initially plucked from non-league football at Lincoln before taking him to London Road.

And, having released John Fitzgerald and lost out on the signature of Darran Kempson to Shrewsbury, the club are doubling their efforts to secure a central defender.

The 26-year-old, son of former Manchester City and England Under-21 international Paul Futcher, made 25 league appearances at Peterborough last season before being loaned to his former club Grimsby. He was part of a big summer clearout by Darren Ferguson, and is keen on a return north.

Mansfield boss Billy Dearden confirmed his interest this week, but Bury have remained quiet, reiterating their stance of not naming transfer targets.

The Shakers have, however, laughed off suggestions that they made a cash offer for Futcher's former team-mate, Richard Butcher.

The midfielder, who was also twice signed by Alexander in the past, was placed on the transfer list at the end of last season and has two years remaining on his current contract.

But his asking price - around the £50,000 mark - means he is not likely to be reunited with his former manager for a third time just yet.

Speaking for the first time since Marc Pugh left the club, manager Chris Casper said he had been pleased with the way the teenage winger had handled himself in the final months of his Bury career.

Shrewsbury signed the youngster last week, and are now negotiating a compensation package which should be settled in the next fortnight. If a deal cannot be reached, the two clubs will go to a tribunal.

The big-spending Shrews also captured the signing of former Gigg Lane loanee Kempson, who at one point looked odds-on to sign with Casper from Crewe.

But the Bury boss said the attitude of the two players during the transfer process could not have been more different.

"Marc has burned no bridges here, and he looks to have got a very good deal at Shrewsbury," he said.

"He goes with my blessing. We just hope we get a fair compensation deal because we put a lot of work into him."

Casper, however, conceded that Kempson's behaviour had not been as conscientious.

Source: Bury Times