Dundee United will hold out for their £2.5million valuation of midfielder Stuart Armstrong after rejecting bids from Celtic and Burnley for the 22-year-old yesterday.
The Hoops offered £1.5million while the Clarets have offered less for Inverness-born Armstrong, who left Caley Thistle to join United in 2009.
But United are determined to stand firm on their valuation and the Tannadice board will not consider letting the former Scotland under-21 captain go unless their valuation is met.
Celtic have been long-time admirers of the former Hazlehead Academy pupil, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, and have already made one signing from the Tannadice squad this month following midfielder Gary Mackay-Steven’s pre-contract agreement to move to Parkhead in the summer.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche does not expect to go back in for Armstrong with the transfer window closing on Monday night.
Dyche said: “Different offers have been in for players. One’s been rejected today.
“He was more of a development style player in our world – a good young player we think who could learn with us. That won’t happen now, by the looks of things.
“We’ve had offers in for more recognised players that haven’t got over the line at the moment, but we’ll see where that takes us.”
The interest in Armstrong from England extends beyond Turf Moor, with West Bromwich Albion also keen.
The timing of the offers for the United player is far from ideal, coming just 48 hours before the club’s League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden.
However, with both Celtic and Burnley having been rebuffed in their offers United hope the focus of Armstrong and his teammates will remain fully on tomorrow’s crucial match against the Dons at the National Stadium.