Dundee Utd reject Robson offers

Robson has enjoyed some fine form at Tannadice this season

Dundee United have rejected written offers from Burnley and Nottingham Forest for captain Barry Robson.

And United themselves could turn to Leicester City's Mark de Vries in their own search for a striker.

Tannadice chairman Eddie Thompson told BBC Sport that neither of the English clubs had come close to his valuation of 29-year-old midfielder Robson.

Birmingham had earlier made an inquiry about the player, who has also been linked with Newcastle and Celtic.

Robson has been at Tannadice since joining from Inverness Caledonian Thistle for £50,000 in 2003.

But he has blossomed under manager Craig Levein, being particularly effective when moved into central midfield from the left wing.

In the last year, he has really got a grip on what he is doing on the field and off it Dundee United manager Craig Levein

That led to his first international cap, in a friendly against South Africa, in August.

Robson kept his place as a regular in following Scotland squads, selected by now Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.

And his stock will have risen further after his winning goal against Clyde in the Scottish Cup last midweek and two more on Saturday against Aberdeen.

Thompson had warned last month that Robson would not be allowed to leave Tannadice on the cheap and promised to be difficult to deal with.

But this week the chairman admitted: "There's a whole stack of people watching him.

"But Craig and I want to keep him. You saw the way he struck the ball in from 35 yards the other night, passed the ball into the net on Saturday then you knew where he was going to put that free-kick."

And Levein told BBC Sport: "Barry Robson is a 29-year-old man with a couple of kids who, in my opinion, has only really blossomed in the last year or so.

"He's always had talent, but his consistency was nowhere near what it should have been.

"In the last year, he has really got a grip on what he is doing on the field and off it.

"He is working hard and playing well and that is always going to attract interest from other clubs."

Meanwhile, Levein is looking to one of his former signings as he searches for a replacement for striker Jordan Robertson, who has been recalled from his loan spell by Sheffield United.

De Vries was previously with Levein at Hearts and then followed him to Leicester.

The Dutchman is understood to be available from the English Championship outfit and could be the subject of an approach by United.