Preston boss Simon Grayson says the Lilywhites have received interest in several players during this transfer window but that they have made it clear they don’t want to sell. The Blues are understood to have had a second offer for striker Jordan Hugill of £2 million turned down by Saturday’s opponents, who are currently 11th in the Championship.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire Sport, Grayson said: “We’ve had opportunities to sell three or four of our first-team players this window and we’ve made it certainly clear that we’re not in the market for letting our best players go.

“Bids have been coming in and turned down from different clubs for different players but we’ve got something going at this club, hence why the owner stands by my decisions when I say I don’t want to sell X, Y and Z and he’s backing me in that respect.

“That’s the most important part of the window rather than sometimes what comes in.”

Speaking earlier this afternoon, Blues boss Mick McCarthy wouldn’t comment on whether he had made an offer for Hugill or confirm his interest but admitted the former Port Vale frontman is a player he rates.

“He's a real competitor, he works hard, he’s quick. He never gives centre-halves a minute’s peace,” he said.

“And he’s only going to get better. He added his couple of goals [in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa] at the weekend.

“He’s somebody who has come into it a little bit later than others, certainly to professional football, and he’ll be one I like.”

He added: “I won’t talk about him other than that, as I say, I like him, he’s a good player.”

Hugill is a doubt ahead of Saturday’s game having missed training this week after suffering a knee injury and being replaced 12 minutes from the end of the Villa game, which he left on crutches.

The Lilywhites hope to have him back in training on Friday and available for Saturday’s match.

Photo: Action Images

TheDailyTractor added 20:20 - Jan 26 Knee injury? We can sort that out for you Jordan. Come down to Suffolk, we would love to have you here. What we need up front I think. Excellent goal against Villa (first one). Pace and Power - exactly what we are missing
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Suffolk_n_Good added 20:28 - Jan 26 Well that's another of the "seven figure bids" that hasn't come off then....
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MickMillsTash added 20:34 - Jan 26 He's the one- thought he was decent vs Arsenal - will turn knocks over the fall back into good balls. I am sure McCarthy will be keen on him more than e.g Ward or the Bristol Rovers chap
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jas0999 added 20:34 - Jan 26 Surely we spent September to December looking into who was actually available and his much they were likely to cost? It seems this 'player not being available' or 'above market value' may be used as an excuse. Let's hope not.
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ianmarshall10 added 20:46 - Jan 26 3 million should see this deal go through but will Evans pay that very much doubt it but let's hope this deal comes off because it sounds like he would do a good job for us. If not go for Taylor very impressive goal scoring record last couple of seasons.
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12th_Man added 21:09 - Jan 26 We're going to end up with no one as I said at the beginning of January
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bluearmy78 added 21:57 - Jan 26 Mick says he likes him as he works hard. Reading the Preston forums when we first went in for him with a bid of 1.5m & their fans said Grayson should of snapped his hand off!! Either way we need a signing, would like to see Marley Watkins at the club
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bluearmy78 added 21:57 - Jan 26 Mick says he likes him as he works hard. Reading the Preston forums when we first went in for him with a bid of 1.5m & their fans said Grayson should of snapped his hand off!! Either way we need a signing, would like to see Marley Watkins at the club
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itfchorry added 01:13 - Jan 27 Please let our next manager put our Club back together again - You have had every chance - Driven fans away and are destroying Our club -
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KiwiBlue2 added 02:27 - Jan 27 It wasnt that long ago that transfers were simply announced. Lately we have endless speculation, the will he/wont he sign sagas of the type that Keane and Jewell presided over. An early positive of MM was that in the first couple of years he did the business very quickly and quietly so as not to alert others and then the signing was simply announced. The January window is basically a dance of the desperate. I would have been very happy if an acknowledged quality central midfielder who was rated in the top 3 or 4 in the Championship in that position could have been signed even if we went up towards 3m. Little point spending 2m or more on Hudgill until such time as the central midfield is sorted out....... -

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parkinshair added 08:09 - Jan 27 Ironically we want to get rid of our player Best.
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cleggo added 09:39 - Jan 27 As a like for like replacement for Murphy , but just about 10 years younger, you would think he would be worth at least as much as we got in for Murph in the summer?
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martin587 added 13:56 - Jan 27 If he is that good then up the offer and just get him,otherwise some other club will come in and get him.!
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