ROY Keane is ready to raid his former club Nottingham Forest to secure the services of versatile midfielder James Perch.

The 22-year-old is a product of the Forest Academy and manager at the City Grond, Colin Calderwood, will find it difficult to turn down an offer in the region of £850,000.

The Mansfield-born player broke into the first team three years ago and has made around 100 appearances for the club.

He is regarded as one of the brightest talents outside the top tier and can play across the backline as well as in midfield.

Despite failing to hold down a regular spot for the League One side this term, Perch was an integral part of Calderwood's promotion campaign last season, when they narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

Celtic defender Bobo Balde, meanwhile, has revealed he turned down the chance of a three-month spell at Sunderland.

The 32-year-old, who has found himself out of the firstteam picture at Parkhead and seems destined to leave, revealed Keane tried to land him on a short-term deal in August.

Balde, who resisted attempts to offload him to the Wearside club, said: I had been in contact with Sunderland manager Roy Keane on the last day of the transfer window. He wanted me, but only for three months. I didn't want to go for three months, but (Celtic chief executive) Peter Lawwell didn't find a way to let me go permanently."

Keane has been linked with another move for the Frenchman in January, when he will look to strengthen his squad further, although he is also interested in Manchester United's Jonny Evans.