BURNLEY may have to break their transfer record to prise Barry Robson away from Dundee United.

The Clarets have enquired about the availability of the goalscoring midfielder, who manager Owen Coyle worked with as a player-coach at Tannadice in 2003.

Sources in Scotland say the club have placed a valuation of up to £1.5million on Robson - £500,000 more than the Clarets' most expensive signings, Ian Moore and Robbie Blake in his first spell. They also face stiff competition from Scottish Premier League champions Celtic in securing Robson's signature.

The 29-year-old has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for £750,000 should the Terrors be willing to sell. That fee would suit Burnley, who are set to receive at least £1.5million from Charlton Athletic following the sale of Andy Gray last week.

As United are reluctant sellers, manager Craig Levein is likely to set his sights higher - possibly between £1.25m-£1.5m - before considering negotiations; more so with the potential for a bidding war if Celtic decide to act on the interest they expressed in the Scotland international before Christmas.

Newcastle United were also rumoured to be lining up a bid for the former Rangers youngster, but that is thought to be wide of the mark.

Nevertheless, Dundee United are bracing themselves for interest in captain Robson, who has scored 11 goals from midfield this season, to hot up in the next seven days or so as the transfer window draws to a close.

The suggestion is that, given the choice, Robson would prefer to go to Celtic.

However, after earning his first Scotland cap last August, he stated he would like to try his hand in the English Football League.

And Terrors boss Levein fears the Championship could prove too tempting.

"The transfer window is in full flow and there is a lot of speculation about the future of our skipper Barry Robson," he said.

"I'm not surprised - he is playing out of his skin and I am not going to lie about clubs contacting us.

"A couple have done so and there is definite interest in Barry but nothing has happened yet.

"It's a fact of life that clubs in the Championship down south can offer wages we cannot hope to compete with.

"If a player gets the chance to double or triple his salary there is nothing we can do to stop him.

"If Barry does go, though, I would hope Dundee United are suitably compensated."