Clough admitted that in an ideal world he would be happy to sign the Czech Republic-born defender to a deal, but is keen to improve several areas of his squad ahead of the new campaign, meaning there isn't much room for Tomáš.
Egert penned a short-term deal with the Pirelli Stadium club last season and was invited to return for pre-season training this summer but has since learned that his future lies away from the Pirelli, allowing him to look elsewhere.
Speaking via the his club's official website - burtonalbionfc.co.uk - Clough said; "We can’t manage to fit him into the budget with the five defenders we have already got. In an ideal world we would love to take him as cover – but that’s what he would be.
"He wants to be in the starting line up as well. But we have looked at him at right back and centre half and we don’t think he’s better than those five. We have five out and out defenders. Reece Hutchinson becomes an option, Matty Lund can play right back, Lucas Akins can slot in there – that’s going to be the cover for us."
Clough then went on to praise the defender, who is expected to join the rest of the Walsall squad for pre-season training this week, for returning to training in great shape, he continued; "Tomas came back in great shape from the Czech Republic but it’s purely down to numbers and we can’t get him in there."
"He wants to be in the starting line up as well. But we have looked at him at right back and centre half and we don’t think he’s better than those five. We have five out and out defenders. Reece Hutchinson becomes an option, Matty Lund can play right back, Lucas Akins can slot in there – that’s going to be the cover for us."
Clough then went on to praise the defender, who is expected to join the rest of the Walsall squad for pre-season training this week, for returning to training in great shape, he continued; "Tomas came back in great shape from the Czech Republic but it’s purely down to numbers and we can’t get him in there."