Dundee manager Paul Hartley has informed Inverness Caley Thistle that he wants to sign James Vincent and Danny Williams.
The English pair both fall out of contract with the Highlanders this summer so have been free to negotiate with prospective employers since the turn of the year.
The Dark Blues are at the front of the queue to get them and Hartley has told ICT he intends having the two midfielders in his squad at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
The Dens boss revealed: “They are two who have been mentioned and we are looking at every angle, every possibility as we try to improve the squad for next season.
“We plan to speak to them and we have indicated that to the club (Inverness).
“I think it is only right to do that.
“We want to try to get our business done early again.”
While the pre-contract business with Williams and Vincent bubbles away, Hartley might just have a wee word with the ICT pair about how it felt to lift the William Hill Scottish Cup last season.
Vincent scored the winner after coming off the bench at Hampden in the final against Falkirk, while Williams was also a used sub against the Bairns.
Dundee’s main focus is, of course, on tomorrow’s Scottish Cup last-16 clash at Dumbarton and Hartley won’t be taking the Championship side lightly.
“We want to put our strongest team out on the park and to win the match,” said Hartley, who hinted that the game may come too soon for Spanish striker Arturo.
“We have to treat this as a tough cup-tie.
“I haven’t been able to attend a Dumbarton game lately but I have seen footage of their matches.
“They have experience in their side and have now, of course, added Christian Nade.
“I don’t know if he will play but he is a handful and will be looking to do well against a former club.
“There can be a lot of things that can happen in these games, for example windy conditions, to make life difficult for you.
“So we have go there with the right attitude.
“We know that if we can win this game we are in the quarter-finals and I think that is a big incentive for us as a club.”