NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth has held talks over an audacious swoop for Lee Trundle – one of the biggest stars in Welsh football.

The Argus can reveal that Exiles manager Dean Holdsworth had discussions with the Swansea City legend – out of contract this summer – in a bid to land what would arguably have been the biggest coup in County’s history.

And though the former Wrexham striker, whose last fee was £1million when he joined Bristol City, has indicated that he hopes to continue in the Football League, Holdsworth explained that he had positive discussions with the skillful Liverpool-born ace.

Those talks ended with Trundle, nicknamed ‘Magic Daps’, promising to keep Holdsworth in touch over the remainder of the summer as to his intentions for next season.

The South Wales Argus tipped Holdsworth off as to Trundle’s possible availability, Championship outfit Swansea yet to commit to offering the maverick a contract after a six-month loan spell at the Liberty Stadium.

Trundle is understood to be keen on staying in South Wales and was contacted by Holdsworth after doing a UEFA B Licence coaching course in Cardiff recently run by Spytty Park coach Matt Bishop.

Sources close to Trundle confirmed that while he’s desperate to stay with Swansea, the striker is also keen to begin a coaching career and the Exiles hoped to sway him with the promise of a dual-role with the club.

“Obviously after hearing that Lee hasn’t been offered a deal yet by Swansea, we were keen to at least have a chat and I was able to contact Lee through Matt Bishop,” Holdsworth confirmed.

“Lee is a smashing player, a bit of a throwback of a footballer and the kind of player any manager at our level would be desperate to sign.

“I had a great conversation with Lee and we talked about football for a long time and share a lot of thoughts on the game.

“It’s an unlikely one of course, because he’s still good enough for the Championship, but it was left with a ‘never say never’ attitude on both sides and we’re going to stay in touch.”

Holdsworth is currently on holiday and is expecting to sign a striker and a goalkeeper next week before pre-season training begins a week on Monday.

The boss has two strikers lined up for talks and will also be meeting with a stopper that would certainly provide quality competition for Glyn Thompson with Keiron Blackburn set to be loaned out.

The Exiles are also still in talks on bringing in another wide midfielder, again hopeful of agreeing a deal in time for pre-season.

“We’re closing in on the last couple of key signings and should have news next week, I would just ask that our supporters are patient and don’t do too much speculating, because we’d really like to talk to the players without everyone knowing who they are,” Holdsworth said.

“I feel like we’re bang on course for next season and we’re all really buzzing about starting up again.”