YORK City may have to break their club record transfer fee to sign Chester City hotshot Luke Beckett, writes Peter Martini.

As reported on the Evening Press internet site yesterday, the Deva Stadium club have confirmed that York are in talks with the 23-year-old marksman, who finished joint-second in the Division Three scoring charts last season despite Chester's relegation.

One of his 19 league and cup goals came in Chester's 2-0 defeat of York in April, which may have prompted the Minstermen to make a move.

The 5ft 11in hitman was also Chester's top scorer in the 1998-99 season, bagging 11 goals in just 28 league games following his move from Barnsley where he started his career. Yorkshire-born Beckett still lives in Sheffield and a move back to the White Rose county is now in the offing.

Chester chairman Terry Smith said: "We have had discussions with York and we've given them permission to speak to Luke. I know they have spoken to him but I don't know if they've finalised discussions. They will probably speak to him some more.

"Luke is a very good player, a great professional and has a good work ethic. We want what is best for him. He has been commuting over here for the last two years, and if York's a place he would like to go we would be happy about that."

Smith would not say what price tag would come with Beckett, but York may have to better the club record £140,000 they paid Burnley for Adrian Randall in 1995.

The Minstermen were linked with Beckett in October, City's then manager Neil Thompson - who was at Oakwell when Beckett was on Barnsley's books - having spoken to the striker following Chester's 2-2 draw at Bootham Crescent.

Current York boss Terry Dolan was unavailable for comment as he is on a short break and is not due back at Bootham Crescent until Tuesday. Chairman Douglas Craig has been away at a Football League conference.