Raven set to sign Carlisle deal

Raven began his career as a trainee with Liverpool

Defender David Raven is set to sign a new one-year deal at Carlisle United following talks with the club.

The 24-year-old former Liverpool trainee had initially been offered a new two-year-contract at Brunton Park.

Manager Greg Abbott said: "That suits the player and, to be honest, it suits the club as well.

"That length of deal will keep him hungry and keen to play as well as he can... to keep himself at the fore of what we are trying to achieve."

Birkenhead-born Raven joined the Cumbrians from Liverpool in July 2006 on a two-year contract.

We don't want to go in now and miss out on something that might be around later on

Greg Abbott

The former England youth captain was a product of Liverpool's academy and made eight first-team appearances for the Reds before his move to Brunton Park.

"It was very positive with David and it looks like he is going to come on board with a one-year deal in the next couple of days or so," Abbott said.

"It's a good decision because I think that he ended the season in a very strong way. Defensively he was solid and he showed a lot of character, and he's the kind of person that you do want around the place.

"What we expect to see now is that David will come in and work hard and earn another contract with us because of the way that he applies himself next season. He is determined to improve even more and really kick on from the good form that he showed last season."

You don't go out and find someone on a Thursday and then sign them on a Friday, it just doesn't work like that

Greg Abbott

Abbott also told BBC Radio Cumbria's Matchnight programme that there has been interest in some of his existing squad.

"There have been a couple of tentative enquiries about one or two of our players, players that I don't want to release and hopefully won't have to release," he said.

"At the minute though they were enquiries and that it is all that they are at the moment. I would imagine that there will be more of that goes on as and when.

"At the moment we have done our retained and released list and the players that I have got at the moment I have absolutely no problem with.

"They are going to form the bulk of our squad and we are looking to add to it at the minute rather than see it dwindle any further."

Abbott also said he would not rush into signing a replacement for striker Danny Graham, who has turned down a new deal with the club.

"We don't have to rush into things," he said. "There are not many people rushing into things if you notice at a lot of other clubs. There is nobody doing any business at the moment so we don't want to go in now and miss out on something that might be around later on.

"You have got to pick the right time to go in and buy. You don't go out and find someone on a Thursday and then sign them on a Friday, it just doesn't work like that.

"I have got to come up with enough information on a player that I want to buy or sign and give that to the board and hopefully they agree with that situation."