Crusaders have reportedly accepted a “six-figure bid” from Chesterfield for star striker Fraser Bryden – with the League Two club now “given permission to open talks”.

Bryden has attracted significant transfer attention from across the water after a stunning debut Irish League campaign last term.

The 22-year-old scored 23 goals in 36 Premiership appearances for Declan Caddell’s side, playing a crucial role in helping the Seaview outfit to preserve their top flight status.

With Bryden still having one year remaining on his current Crusaders contract, the North Belfast club are able to demand a sizeable fee for their top player – and could now be in line for a healthy payday with Chesterfield making their move.

placeholder image — Crusaders striker Fraser Bryden could be set to join Chesterfield. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

The Daily Record have reported that the Crues accepted an offer in excess of £100,000 for Bryden with Chesterfield manager Paul Cook “keen to win the fight” for the striker’s services.

In a further update, Sky Sports have said the two clubs agreed a fee of £120,000 plus add-ons, and that “other clubs remain interested and could still make a move for the player”.

Bryden will now enter into formal negotiations with the English fourth tier outfit after receiving the green light.

He arrived at Crusaders having scored just one goal in 17 league matches during a loan spell at Queen of the South from Ayr United, but working with Caddell helped bring the best out of Bryden.

His success followed fellow countryman Kieran Offord earning a move to Linfield after starring across a loan stint at Crusaders.

Caddell has been consistent in his approach that he won’t stand in the way of a positive move for his players – and it now appears Bryden could be departing ahead of the new season.

"Listen, they're my players,” he said in November after being asked about Bryden. “You always want the best for them.

"If there's a bigger and better opportunity for my players, I'd be the first one to push them out the door.

"I'm not selfish whatsoever that way. If they're able to move on to bigger and better things than we can provide here, then brilliant.

"I've been part of their journey and that's what I am as a coach. I try to develop young players and let them lift the levels and move on to bigger and better things.

"I've managed to do that the past year and the coaching staff have managed to do that the past year.

"For me, he's a Crusaders player at the minute. He'll remain a Crusaders player at the minute. There will be interest around him, but he's content.

"He's a good lad, he's an honest lad, he'll want to develop and he'll always make the right choice as it comes along what's best for him.”

Bryden could now be set to form a strike partnership with Northern Ireland international Lee Bonis, who joined Chesterfield from Dutch outfit ADO Den Haag last year.

Bonis helped fire Larne to consecutive Premiership titles, scoring 36 league goals across his two-and-a-half years at Inver Park having arrived from Portadown in 2022.

The 26-year-old impressed in his debut League Two campaign last term, netting 13 times as Chesterfield qualified for the play-offs before losing out to Notts County in the semi-finals.