STEVE Claridge has become the latest player to be linked with a move to Burnley.

Sources in the south have said the Clarets are one of the names connected with the 34-year-old striker who is currently considering his future after losing out on the manager's position at Fratton Park to Graham Rix.

Rix will be in charge for his first game -- against Burnley -- this weekend and it is unsure whether Claridge, top scorer with 11 goals this season, will be involved.

"I'm flattered that clubs are interested but I can honestly say that I haven't received any concrete offers from anyone in this country," said the former Bournemouth, Cambridge, Birmingham and Leicester player.

"I have had a chance to go to China where they will pay me four times what I am on but I did not really consider it."

With the addition of Manchester City loan forward Gareth Taylor, a striker is probably not on the top of manager Stan Ternent's hit list, but Pompey favourite Claridge it tried and tested at this level.

Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Swindon are also said to be waiting on the forward's decision about his future.

Meanwhile, Burnley's Micky Mellon is said to be a target of Crewe Alexandra.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi is thought to be interested in the 28-year-old who has been on the bench for the last three games.

Gradi is looking to bolster his midfield after failing to get his old player Gareth Whalley on loan back at Gresty Road from Bradford City.

Mellon, who cost Burnley £350,000 from Tranmere just over a year ago, is just one name in the frame.

Away from transfer talk, Burnley have now started preparing for four away games, starting with the Portsmouth trip, as they look to record their first win on their travels since October 21.

And Ternent is keen to point out that if Burnley keep performing well, they can get rid of their travel sickness.

The Burnley chief said: "There has never been a problem for me in travelling away from home.

"Only at Preston, when funnily enough we were winning 1-0 and lost, have we not done ourselves justice.

"Other than that, we have deserved something out of most matches we have played -- although I am a bit biased!

"We've played well enough but just not had a break and there's a very thin dividing line between winning and losing."

He continued: "But we've never lost faith and the overall objective this year was always to maintain our First Division status and we are well on our way to doing that.

"There are some people who say that is under achieving and I know where they are coming from.

"But with the financial implications and with everything that is going on with the transfer market at the moment, you have to be a bit careful.

"The club is making progress and we are on the right lines."

Meanwhile, Clarets defender Ian Cox is due to play for Tinidad and Tobago against Jamaica today in a World Cup qualifier.