Walsall FC play hardball over Darryl Westlake

Cardiff could hand Walsall FC another payday if they cash in on Anthony Gerrard – as the Saddlers played hardball over Darryl Westlake.

The Bluebirds have rejected a bid from an unnamed club for 26-year-old Gerrard – who Walsall sold to Cardiff three years ago.

They included a sell-on clause in the deal and will take a slice of any fee if the defender, who had a loan spell at Hull in 2010-11, leaves the Cardiff City Stadium.

He has been left out of the Bluebirds' tour of Switzerland by boss Malky Mackay and is behind Mark Hudson, Darcy Blake and Ben Turner in the pecking order.

Huddersfield Town, Bristol City, Blackburn and Derby are interested in Gerrard, who missed the final spot-kick in Cardiff's Carling Cup final penalty defeat to Liverpool in February.

Walsall chief executive Stefan Gamble said any money generated from football would be ploughed back into boss Dean Smith's budget.

They have bagged £10,000 after Sky picked their trip to Shrewsbury for live TV in October and are in talks with Sheffield United over compensation for Westlake.

The 21-year-old rejected a new deal at Walsall in favour of a move to Bramall Lane but the Saddlers are due a fee because they offered him a contract and he is under 23.

And Smith insisted they will drive a hard bargain for the right back, who made 78 appearances for the club and played in United's 1-1 friendly draw with Ilkeston on Wednesday.

He said: "Sheffield United made contact with the club and made an offer. It didn't match our valuation so there is on-going dialogue.

"We've developed him and he'd been here since he was 14-years-old and we'd offered him a new contract. It showed what we thought of the lad but they have got to match our valuation. Someone has been watching and decided he fits their bill."