SOUTHEND United boss Phil Brown says Reading FC must up their offer for Ben Coker after rejecting two more bids.

Royals saw a bid of around £100,000 for the left-back turned down last month and two further offers have also failed to tempt the Shrimpers to sell.

Local media in Essex suggest Reading latest offer was in the region of £125,000, but it is clear Southend are holding out for more for the 25-year-old defender.

Brown told the Chronicle's sister paper, the Basildon, Canvey & Southend Echo: “We’ve had a second and third offer from Reading for Ben which we have chosen not to accept as a football club.

“I don’t want to lose Ben but if somebody put a decent offer on the table then we might actually listen.

“But the bids we’ve had so far have been a waste of time because he’s worth a lot more than that.”

Coker has made 135 appearances for Southend and has been one of their most consistent performers in recent seasons.

But there is some confusion over the strength of Reading's interest after boss Jaap Stam denied they are chasing Coker, a theory Brown appears to confirm.

“I contacted Jaap Stam and he denied he was interested in Ben Coker,” said Brown.

“It was the Thais who were in charge of business before Jaap Stam came in who were putting the bids in left right and centre, which were causing consternation in the game.

“It didn’t do me any favours and it turned my player’s head but we want Ben to stay and if nobody comes in with a real serious offer then I’m confident he will.”

It has been a busy period for Reading on the transfer front after Joseph Mendes became Stam's third summer signing on Friday following Joey van den Berg and Danzell Gravenberch.

Reports say Royals are also close to signing two more players following strong links to Argentinian defender, Gaston Campi, and Finnish keeper, Annsi Jaakkola.

Campi, 25, is said to be close to completing a season-long loan from Buenos Aires-based Racing Club.

It is understood that Jaakkola, 29, could also be heading to Madejski Stadium from South African side, Ajax Cape Town.

Meanwhile, Aaron Tshibola completed his £5m switch from Royals to Aston Villa on Saturday, signing a four-year deal.

Stam will take his squad to Holland today for a mini-tour after they opened their pre-season account with a thumping 5-0 win at Boreham Wood at the weekend.