It’s emerged Dundee United made a double statement of intent just hours short of Wednesday night’s transfer deadline.
The Tangerines pulled off one of the big coups of the final day of the window as they beat off competition from a string of Premiership clubs to land Tony Andreu.
And the Tele can reveal they also knocked back an attempt from Championship rivals Hibs to snatch striker Simon Murray.
They rejected two bids from the league leaders for the 24-year-old.
United could have recouped the £50,000 splashed out to Arbroath for him in January last year.
But they were unwilling to sell to one of their major rivals and still see Murray as having a part to play at Tannadice.
He is joint-top scorer so far this term with five goals — the same number as fellow-attacker Cammy Smith.
While the attacking options have increased with the arrival of Andreu, who looks likely to operate just behind the main striker, Murray is currently the man in possession of the main attacking role, and manager Ray McKinnon was keen to hang on to him.
Despite a difficult start in the league, in terms of signing activity the last few days have been a massive success for the club.
Experience has been added at the back with the arrival of central defensive pair Frank van der Struijk and William Edjenguele.
And the capture of Andreu came despite interest in him from city neighbours Dundee.
Aberdeen, Ross County and his former club Hamilton Accies also made attempts for the 28-year-old Norwich City man.
United and their manager convinced Andreu the step down to the Scottish Championship would not be a backward one.
The Frenchman had what was considered to be the best two years of his career as an Accies player and that led to him following boss Alex Neil down to the Canaries for £1 million in February last year.
He struggled to hold down a regular starting place at Carrow Road and spent part of last season on loan at Rotherham.
He was a big hit there but left in January to again fight for his place under Neil.
Yesterday also saw United allow several of their kids to go on loan to get first-team experience.
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