CARLISLE say they cannot match City’s “ridiculous” asking price for Jake Young.

Cumbrians boss Paul Simpson confirmed their interest in trying to add the striker to recent Valley Parade recruit Harry Lewis.

But he revealed they have been priced out of a move because of the fee that the Bantams are after.

“He’s a player who we all like but we can’t afford him,” Simpson told our sister paper the News & Star.

“Bradford are talking a ridiculous figure so that won’t be happening (as it stands).”

City have already turned down two offers from League One – with the latest believed to have come from Carlisle. Exeter and Port Vale are also said to be keen on Young.

Speaking after last night’s defeat at Barnsley, which leaves Carlisle rooted in the relegation zone, Simpson admitted he would be surprised if any team were prepared to meet the asking price.

“From what I’m hearing the figure they’re quoting is way out of our league and certainly not a figure that I would expect anybody to be paying for him.”

With the transfer window reaching its midway point, City will wait to see if Carlisle come back in for Young with an improved bid.

Carlisle were recently taken over by the Piatak family and have used the American investment to fund four window signings, including Lewis last week.

Simpson added: “It’s been really frustrating and it’s a different scenario to what we had in the summer where we had a really low budget and couldn’t afford players.

“Now we’ve got some money available but we just can’t get them for one reason or another.

“But we're going to keep going. We're going to keep looking to try and get the right players in.”