Darlington are hoping to sign Chesterfield striker Luke Beckett - but the asking price is likely to prove a massive stumbling block.

The Derbyshire outfit remain in financial dire straits and they recently transfer-listed the striker in an attempt to save the ailing club.

The Spireites have slapped a £120,000 fee on the highly-rated 25-year-old who scored 16 goals in the Third Division last season - including one on Boxing Day against Darlington - and that may be too much for the Quakers.

Feethams boss Tommy Taylor is a huge admirer of Beckett, and as Quakers are without Barry Conlon for the next three matches and Dan Chillingworth's loan period finishes after Saturday's game at Plymouth Argyle a striker is required.

"We've been talking to Chesterfield all the time about Beckett - he's a quality player," Taylor said last night.

"They're asking £120,000 because that's what they owe on him.

"I can't say what I think is going to happen because I don't know but I like the look of him because he's a quality player whose scored goals at this level and he's available."

Sunderland's Michael Proctor and Michael Reddy are also possible targets, but Quakers aren't the only club with eyes on the Black Cats' young talent.

Proctor is currently on loan at York, while Reddy has enjoyed a loan stint at Hull this season.

"I'd take Proctor tomorrow if I had the chance but we aren't the only ones who want him," said Taylor who has been in talks with Cambridge in a bid to extend Chillingworth's stay.

"Blackpool have got a lot of money to play with. They've just got £1.7m off Southampton for Brett Omerod. We've been speaking to Cambridge today and we're hoping to sort out something by the end of tomorrow.

"We'd really like him to stay because he's been brilliant for us. But they've got a new man in charge now and he might have a different opinion from the old one."

John Beck loaned out Chillingworth to Darlington, but he has since resigned as Cambridge boss and caretaker John Taylor could take the 20-year-old back to the Abbey Stadium.

League rules stipulate that players cannot be recalled during the first month of a loan and Taylor said: "He has to stay for that first month, we can't do anything about that. With his lack of first-team fitness, he probably wouldn't be in the starting line-up here at the moment, but he'll get a good month under his belt there and if he comes back after scoring a few more goals then we'll take notice.

"Unfortunately for the last couple of seasons he's never had a chance under Roy McFarland or under John Beck, but if he comes back here and scores goals it will be impossible to leave him out."

But Chillingworth is enjoying his time at Darlington where he has scored twice in four appearances, including the first during Saturday's 2-1 win at Altrincham.

He said: "If I could stay at Darlington, then I wouldn't think twice about going back. I don't want to go back to Cambridge and find I'm sitting on the bench. I'd much rather play at Darlington and get some experience."

The home clash with Hartlepool United has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 19. The game had to be switched from January 5th because that date is set aside for the third round of the FA Cup when Peterborough United will travel to Feethams.

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