PORT Vale striker Tom Pope has been linked with a move to Bury.

The 29-year-old striker, who has netted 61 goals in his last three seasons with the League One side, is out of contract.

And according to reports in the Stoke Sentinel he has been offered a new deal but at a 50 per cent pay cut.

Bury have already signed former Blackpool defender Peter Clarke, aged 33, and ex-Wolves striker Leon Clarke, 30, on free transfers.

And David Flitcroft, who guided the Shakers to promotion from League Two in his first full season as manager, has revealed he was close to completing “five key signings”.

One of his top targets is understood to be Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope, 23, who completed a successful loan spell at Bury at the end of last season.

But a move for his namesake at the Valiants would also fit in with Flitcroft’s stated aim of building a core squad of 20 players – including two goalkeepers and an even split of defenders, midfielders and attackers.

Despite Bury’s reported interest in the two players, completing the deals is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Nick Pope is understood to have three years remaining on his contract and is on Championship wages, meaning a season-long loan may be more in the Shakers' price range.

Doncaster have already confirmed an interest in Tom Pope, and the highly-regarded front man is thought to also have potential suitors in the Championship.

Flitcroft would not drawn on any possible interest in the Port Vale forward, but he is confident the club’s wage budget is competitive, and believes Bury also have plenty to offer in added benefits.

“We spent about 10 days working with the board and the club’s accountant on a budget that took into account our projected income and expenditure and was within financial fair play rules,” said the Bury boss.

That projected income included expected gate revenue, as well as more than £360,000 in solidarity payments from the Premier League and money from a new Football League TV deal with Sky and Channel 5.

“We obviously can’t compete with Championship clubs on money alone, but I believe we are in a very good position.

“It is hard to overestimate the value of having Carrington as a base.

“Geographically, we are in a great spot, just five minutes from the Trafford Centre and close to the centre of Manchester.

“And the facilities at Carrington are obviously some of the best in the country.

“That means we can offer ambitious young players a fantastic training base where they can develop their skills and possibly achieve that move up to a higher level.

“And the recovery centre, including the hydrotherapy pools, means that we can offer more experienced players the chance to possibly extend their careers.

“Rehab and recovery is so important to the older players, so that has definitely been an important bargaining tool for us.”