Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is launching a £2 million bid for fit-again Derby midfielder Giles Barnes.

Barnes is just back in first-team action after a season disrupted by injury, but Hodgson thinks he has the talent to come into his side and fill Jimmy Bullard's boots.

Hodgson has been turned down in approaches for Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone and Fabian Delph of Leeds, but Derby will let 20-year-old Barnes go despite building up to an FA Cup replay with Nottingham Forest.