Keeper Steven Davies made his debut for Worcestershire back in 2005

Worcestershire have received an approach from Surrey for their England one-day wicketkeeper Steven Davies.

"We have had a 28-day notice of approach from Surrey and from the player himself," said Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton.

"We have made an offer which was accepted in principle by his agent but Steven wants to keep his options open."

Davies, 22, is not prepared to comment on the issue, but it is becoming clear that he is keeping his options open.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes has not conceded defeat in the fight to keep Kidderminster boy Davies, one of only two home-grown players currently in their team.

"If you remember last year," he said, "we had a very long, drawn out affair with Stephen Moore.

"We were all delighted that Stephen decided to stay with Worcestershire and it was not the best financial offer so that's where he showed good loyalty.

We desperately want Steven to stay here and so we offered a three-year contract Mark Newton

"There's no reason to suggest Steven Davies won't do the same thing, but what disappoints us a little bit is that we assumed that the deal was done.

"The crucial things for us are that Steve has told his agent that he wants to play cricket here and we have met exactly the terms he wants."

Newton said that, after meeting with the player's agent two weeks ago, they felt sure that they had matched Davies's demands.

"We desperately want Steven to stay here," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester, "so we offered a three-year contract.

"We asked what the terms of that contract would be and his agent told us what he would expect. After discussion internally we said that we would meet those terms."

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