West Ham chief Alan Curbishley has categorically denied that he is considering a summer swoop for Derby midfielder Giles Barnes.

The Hammers boss was linked with a reported £3.5million swoop for the highly-rated young Rams player in the summer.

But Curbishley has rejected the national newspaper claims out of hand.

He told Sky Sports News: "There's no truth in that. There are lots of players out there that we like, but there's no truth in that newspaper article."