SAM Allardyce's hopes of picking up Derby striker Malcolm Christie on the cheap have suffered a setback.

The cash-strapped Rams have been told by their bankers to raise £10 million in the January sales and 23-year-old Christie - a target the Wanderers boss has his eye on - is expected to be one of the players off-loaded.

But Derby chief executive Keith Loring has issued a warning to any clubs expecting to take advantage of their financial plight.

"We plan to sell players but that doesn't mean we can't be strong when an offer doesn't meet our valuation," the Pride Park chief explained.

Christie, Derby's joint-top scorer with nine goals from 27 Premiership appearances last season, is valued at around £3 million, which Allardyce believes to be a reasonable price.

But the Wanderers' boss does not know at this stage how much scope he will have to strengthen his squad when the transfer window opens in January, although he is in dire need of more fire-power.

Derby are in crisis after being relegated to the Nationwide League with a collection of high-earning players on contracts they cannot afford. Bjorn Otto Bragstad and Branko Struper are expected to follow Horacio Carbonari in having their contracts cancelled but the Rams are still desperate to off-load Fabrizio Ravenelli and Dean Burton and could also be forced to sell Danny Higginbotham, Chris Riggott and goalkeeper Mart Poom.

But their rejection of Sunderland's £2 million offer for Poom suggests the vultures will not necessarily find rich pickings.

"I hope our decision about Poom puts out a clear message," Loring said.