COLIN COOPER has confirmed striker Luke James has reiterated his desire to leave Hartlepool United.

The striker put a transfer request in on Monday, but followed up with a second on Tuesday evening, after playing in Pools’ 2-0 home defeat to Dagenham.

Peterborough are keen on the 19-year-old striker and have submitted a bid for his services, although their rejected offer is understood be well short of the £1m mark reported.

Cooper said yesterday: “All I can say is that, as a contracted player I expected him to play the other night and he did himself credit. After the game I was handed another transfer request, so that’s where we are.’’

Pools are due to train at Victoria Park this morning before heading off for tomorrow’s game at Wimbledon. It is not certain if James will either travel with his team-mates or train this morning.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson claimed the clubs are some distance apart on their valuations of the 19-year-old, but hinted they are open to entering further talks with the Victoria Park hierarchy.

Ferguson, who signed Jack Baldwin from Victoria Park in January, said: “We will treat it as we have done and be patient.

 “Hartlepool are fully entitled to do what they want to keep a player, we have done that ourselves.

“They will have a valuation on the boy and we will but we don’t want to go anymore than what we have already offered.

 “So, that is where the stumbling block is and it is the same with any transfer.

 “There always seems to be two different valuations and when you meet in the middle, or meet that valuation, the deal will get done.

 “But at the moment we are still a good bit apart, I have to say.”

James played in Tuesday’s home defeat to Dagenham and Ferguson added: “The boy is adamant that he wants to leave and that is his prerogative.

“We have done all we can as a football club and have dealt with it in the right way and dealt with Hartlepool directly but like I say it is looking a good bit off at the moment.”

Pools have signed Middlesbrough striker Charlie Wyke on loan. He had a spell at Victoria Park from Boro two seasons ago.