Crawley have offered Joe Walsh a new two-year contract in an attempt to hang on to their captain.

Reds have already rejected one enquiry for the defender from a League One rival and are bracing themselves for further interest when the transfer window opens next month.

Chief executive Michael Dunford has categorically denied speculation that Crawley have already agreed a deal to sell Walsh to Sheffield United in January but admits they would have to listen to offers for the 22-year-old unless he signs the new deal or risk losing him for peanuts in the summer.

Walsh, who turned down the chance to join Peterborough last January, is out of current at the end of the season and Crawley would only be entitled to compensation if he decided to leave due to being under the age of 24.

Dunford said: “We had an approach for Joe a few weeks ago which we knocked on the head completely. It didn't even get to the stage of being an offer as it was not something we wanted to consider.

“There has been no contact from anybody since then and I don't know where the rumour about Sheffield United has come from. I expect people saw Nigel Clough (United boss) at one of our games a few weeks ago and put two and two together.

“Joe is one of our most important players and we want to keep hold of him for as long as possible but his contract situation makes it difficult. We've made him a contract offer but he is yet to respond to that which is understandable.

“I think he will probably keep his options open until the summer so if somebody makes an offer which is acceptable to us then we would have to seriously consider it as he is one of our more valuable assets.”

Walsh has made 100 appearances for Reds - scoring nine goals - since joining on a free transfer from Swansea City in August 2012 and was made captain last month after Josh Simpson was placed on the transfer list.

The centre-back was called up to the full Wales squad for the first time in October having previously captained the under-21s.

Meanwhile, Dunford is hopeful that midfielder Marvin Elliott will sign a new one-month contract in the next 24 hours after his previous short-term deal expired at the weekend.