GREG Leigh will weigh up his options before deciding on a potential move to Crewe Alexandra.

Released by Premier League side Manchester City, the 20-year-old impressed at left-back during his season-long stint in south Cheshire.

Boss Steve Davis met with the player this week but faces competition from the likes of League One rivals Oldham for his signature.

“It’s early in the close season for anyone to make any decisions but all you can do at this time is express interest, talk and then wait and see,” explained Davis.

“We need to bring in a left-back.

“I don’t see Jon Guthrie as a left-back moving forward so we’ve spoke to Greg and there will also be others we have targeted.”

Anthony Grant’s controversial departure draws nearer with many supporters believing his name should have been first on the retained list.

A key man in Crewe’s last-gasp survival, the 27-year-old tough-tackling midfielder is out-of-contract next month and believed to be already lining up his next destination.

However Davis does want Ryan Colclough and Matt Tootle to stay.

Striker Vadaine Oliver and defender Anthony Stewart have been released with keeper Paul Rachubka likely to follow.

“Anthony (Grant) has gone back to London to chill out and think about things,” continued Davis.

“I think he’s enjoyed it here but I don’t know how long he’d stay out of London.

“We’re waiting on Ryan to come back to us and I hope he stays because we have stuck by him.

“I think he appreciates what the club have done for him and that this best place for him at this time.

“He’s got that support mechanism here in place to help him develop and improve.

“We’d stand by Toots, we’d like him to stay and he knows that.

“We’ll sit down and see where we go with it.”

Set to leave Walsall, Ben Purkiss has emerged as a possible contender to replace Tootle if he decides to move on.

Having also let go Billy Waters and Liam Nolan, a new midfielder, striker and keeper are also being sought.

“The retained list depended on what we need to try and bring in,” added Davis.

“With the five scholars, a good chunk of the budget will be going on under-21 players who haven’t had a lot of experience.

“That means three-quarters to two-third of the budget will have to be invested on the core of the team.

“The mainstay players of a team that can do better in this league.

“It’s going to be a busy summer for us because we want to improve the side and we have to get it right.”

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