FC Köln sporting director Michael Meier again insisted that Town target Milivoje Novakovic is not for sale after the Slovenian netted his side's goal in yesterday's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. Meier revealed Town's €3.5 million (£2.8 million) bid for the striker over the weekend.

Asked about the Blues' offer after the game, Meier reiterated that his club's star player would not be leaving: "He is not for sale.”

Novakovic himself is unlikely to want to move to the Championship from the Bundesliga, despite German reports that the Blues are ready to offer him a deal worth €1 million a season (£800,000). The likes of Schalke 04 have also been linked with the 29-year-old, who last month signed a contract until 2011 last month, but Köln are almost certain to try to hold on to their only Bundesliga class striker.

Meanwhile, Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale insists that his club won't sell central defender Roger Johnson or midfielder Joe Ledley: "I have made it clear the two lads won't be leaving.

"Happily, we're in a position where we don't need to snatch at money for any of our players.”

Reports over the weekend claimed the Blues were back in for Johnson, although this seemed unlikely with the former Wycombe man recently signing a new three-year deal and Cardiff selling their other central defender Glenn Loovens to Celtic for £3 million last week.

Meanwhile, the Blues are being linked with a possible loan move for Sunderland's Anthony Stokes, although at 5ft 11in tall the ex-Arsenal trainee hardly fits into the 6ft 3in-plus big frontman mould of the type of striker Jim Magilton has been targeting in recent weeks.

A claim that Town will look to hijack Linvoy Primus's loan move from Portsmouth to Charlton looks similarly unlikely with the clubs agreeing a half-season switch at the end of last week which will start from Wednesday when the veteran defender, a Charlton player earlier in his career, is over a knock.

Elsewhere, rumours in Southampton claim Rudi Skácel's move to the Blues could be revived. Last month, Town agreed a £1 million fee with the Saints for the 29-year-old, personal terms had been arranged and the midfielder had even undergone a medical.

However, the former Hearts man was concerned that his chances of playing international football with the Czech Republic would be hampered by him continuing to play outside a top division and was instead looking for a club in the Bundesliga, where he ended last season on loan with Hertha Berlin.

Since then, Skácel has been consigned to Southampton's reserves and is currently sidelined for around a week with a leg injury sustained in a second string game.

Town are still looking for a left-sided midfielder, having sold Gary Roberts to Huddersfield earlier in the transfer window and with Matt Richards again on loan at Brighton.

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