Derby County are willing to cover the majority of Robbie Savage's hefty wages to help him move to Crewe Alexandra.

The News of the World says Savage, on a staggering £28,000 a week at Pride Park, has also been offered moves to League One clubs Brighton and Cheltenham.

But Crewe are ready to bring the 33-year-old back to Gresty Road, 11 years after he left to join Leicester.

Savage was pinched from Manchester United's reserves by Dario Gradi in 1994 and made 95 appearances for the Railwaymen in three years.

Derby are so keen to give Savage regular football that they are prepared to subsidise almost all of his hefty wages.