BURY have been put on red alert after Freddie Veseli became a free agent at Port Vale.

The versatile defender is up for grabs after turning down a contract offer from the Valiants – which might just be good news for David Flitcroft, who has been monitoring his progress since an impressive loan spell with the Shakers last year.

Swiss-born Veseli featured 37 times in League One for Vale last season, switching between right-back and centre-half, and could offer the flexibility Flitcroft is looking for in what he believes will be a scaled-down squad this season.

The former Manchester City and Manchester United youngster played 18 games for Bury while on loan from Ipswich Town in 2014, during which the club kept 10 clean sheets.

Another ex-Shaker up for grabs is Adam El-Abd, who has been made available for transfer by Bristol City.

Swindon Town have already enquired about the 30-year-old, who produced some outstanding displays in last season’s promotion push.

It is believed the Egypt international would prefer a southern-based move and his chances of rejoining Bury may also have been scuppered by the summer signing of Blackpool’s Peter Clarke, who Flitcroft believes ticks may of the same boxes as El-Abd.

“When I got Adam in he was a big character, a real leader on the pitch,” said the Bury boss. “He really helped settle quite a young, dynamic back four, with Nick Pope as keeper, he was really influential.

“We were looking for that sort of player again with Clarkey and I chased him with a real intent because there were other clubs looking at him.

“He was player I really wanted to bring to the football club. He played with six or seven different partners at Blackpool last season and that’s difficult to do. I looked at his individual form and he stood up to be counted every single game.”

Flitcroft has been at the European Under-21 Championships this week studying towards his UEFA Pro Licence but returned yesterday to prepare for the start of pre-season training.

Although actively still looking for new signings, the Boltonian says the pool of players he plans to work with could be smaller. He admits, however, that any signings he makes must be of a better quality to make up a “twenty per cent” improvement in the standard of opponent at League One level.

He is also reluctant to waste a penny of his budget on over-inflated salaries, having grown frustrated with some of the numbers being bandied around this summer.

“Players go away on holiday then come home and tell their agents to get them sorted,” he said. “Some of their demands before they leave are ludicrous and ridiculous.

“We plan along a very strict budget and try to stay one step ahead of other clubs whenever we can.”