JACK Cork has been left in limbo with Chelsea’s financial demands currently pricing Burnley out of a deal for the midfielder.

Southampton had an offer accepted late last month but I understand Cork is not keen on a move to the south coast club.

The England Under-21 international remains open to a permanent switch to Turf Moor, where he has spent the last 18 months on loan, and has also attracted interest from other sides tipped to challenge for promotion to the Premier League during 2011/12.

But Chelsea have been reluctant to disclose the figure they accepted from Nigel Adkins’ Southampton and, when Burnley attempted to respond to the Saints’ bid by holding discussions with the Blues, they fell short of the asking price.

It is understood that four or five interested clubs have now been unable to agree a fee with Chelsea, who are said to be determined not to budge in their financial demands.

The other clubs have not been named, but it was already known that Blackpool, Nottingham Forest and Leeds were among those interested.

Swansea, preparing for their first season in the top flight, and West Ham have also been linked.

Cork’s future is unlikely to be affected by Chelsea’s expected appointment of Andre Villas-Boas as their new boss, with the 21-year-old eager to leave Stamford Bridge this summer after accepting that he will not break into the first team during the final year of his contract.

It is understood that the midfielder wants his future resolved by the start of pre-season rather than having to return to train with Chelsea, with Burnley meeting up for their first day of training on June 30 and most other clubs also returning at around that time.

Cork is now back in the country after being part of the England squad at the European Under 21 Championship in Denmark, when he was an unused substitute in all three group games.

But the player cannot speak to clubs about a potential move until Chelsea accept an offer so he is now in limbo as he waits to see if the Blues will lower their asking price, although there remain hopes that there could be developments in the near future.