BURNLEY have rejected two six-figure bids from First Division rivals Leeds United for Richard Chaplow.

I understand the debt-riddled Elland Road outfit had an initial £250,000 offer for the England U21 midfielder ace instantly thrown out.

Leeds, who now have former Clarets assistant manager Sam Ellis in their ranks, have confirmed making a second, improved bid believed to be over £500,000.

But Burnley are determined to resist all attempts to prise the 19-year-old away from Turf Moor, where he enjoyed a storming campaign last season.

And I believe moves are even underway to try to persuade the Accrington-born midfield ace to sign a new long term deal, despite having two years remaining on a current deal signed only last year.

Ellis, now assistant manager at Leeds, today confirmed: "Yes, we have made a bid for Richard, but that is as much as we are saying.

"We do our business in private and try to be discreet as we can. We don't like going public on these things."

Chaplow's rise in stock is all the more remarkable considering he was not even a first team regular at Turf Moor just 12 months ago.

But after forcing his way into the Clarets first team he became a lynchpin of former manager Stan Ternent's midfield.