Derby County bid £2.5m for Henri Lansbury as Nottingham Forest face uncertainty with ownership change

Nottingham Forest's incoming owners face an immediate challenge from fierce rivals Derby County after Steve McClaren made a £2.5million bid for Henri Lansbury.

The midfielder is influential for Forest but out of contract at the end of the season and McClaren believes he can be tempted into making the rare move between the bitter neighbours.

Derby made the offer to current Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi, who is expected to issue a rejection, but the transfer saga is set to continue beyond a takeover by American John Jay Moores.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury is the subject of a £2.5m bid from Derby County

Steve McClaren will hope to tempt Lansbury to join Forest's local rivals this months

Moores is set to complete his £50m purchase from Kuwaiti Al-Hasawi this week after weeks of scrutiny by the Football League.

Derby's pursuit of Lansbury is only expected to harden, with McClaren determined to add a player he feels can boost his side's promotion push.

Watford and Birmingham are also interested.

The Derby manager has been tight-lipped on Lansbury, but said last week: 'His is one a number of names being bandied about at the moment and I think the thing that has alerted all the clubs to Lansbury is, I think, he's out of contract in the summer.'

Lansbury has scored six goals and provided three assists in the Championship this season for 18th-placed Forest.

Derby sit seventh, just outside the play-offs.

Former England manager McClaren is also interested in being reunited with Chris Martin and is exploring the possibility of bringing the striker back from his season-long loan at Fulham.

In-demand Lansbury has also attracted interest from Watford and Birmingham City