Dundee Unired are understood to have made Hearts rebel Ryan Stevenson their next transfer target.
Stevenson (27), who is out of contract in May, has not played for since December 17 and has told the Tynecastle club he wants out.
He has already been the subject of interest from Crawley Town boss Steve Evans, who offered Hearts £20,000. That bid was rejected, but Tannadice boss Peter Houston has £25,000 to spend.
United are on the lookout for a forward player to replace Lauri Dalla Valle, who has returned to Fulham at the end of his loan spell loan. They had Sparta Prague striker Milos Lacny on trial last week, but decided against pursuing that interest.
The 23-year-old Slovakian forward impressed in a trial game last week and was expected to return to Scotland on Monday to take part in another bounce match.
But it has become clear the former Celtic target, who has possibilities in the English Championship, wouldn’t fit into their wage structure, so Houston hasn’t followed up on his initial interest.
United have had a salary budget in recent seasons, and there was no way they can compete with what will be on offer down south.
Houston explained: ”The boy was a very good player, but when we found out what kind of money it would have cost there was no point continuing with it. The amounts involved were beyond what we were looking to pay.
”It would have taken us back to a level we have climbed down from as a club in the last couple of years. He also has other options, so there was no point pursuing it.”
He continued: ”I would still like to bring someone in before the end of the window and I have a few people I’m looking at.
”Ideally I would like to do a permanent deal because I prefer that to a loan. But we will just wait and see what happens between now and the end of the month.”
United drew 0-0 with Falkirk in a practice match on Monday, and this allowed the likes of Richie Ryan, Willo Flood and Barry Douglas to get game time. Midfielder Danny Swanson also played as he continues his comeback from injury.
The Scotland squad man tweaked his knee, but Houston doesn’t think it’s anything serious.
He said: ”We played Falkirk in a bounce game on Monday and it was very worthwhile. It allowed us to give Richie Ryan, Barry Douglas and Willo Flood 90 minutes, which will benefit them.
”Danny Swanson tweaked his knee a wee bit, but it’s nothing serious, and the fact we don’t have a game this weekend means it’s not a problem. It wasn’t a tackle or anything he just kicked the ball a wee bit differently and felt it, but he’ll be fine.”
Photo by Lynne Cameron/PA Archive