Peterborough United re-opened talks with St Johnstone about striker Stevie May, but a fourth formal bid has yet to be lodged.
Perth boss Tommy Wright reported that the two clubs are still in communication over the possibility of a move to League One for the Scotland under-21 call-up, but there’s a big gulf that needs to be plugged before Saints are willing to sell.
Wright said: “There has been further communication from Peterborough today but no new formal bid. It is not dead in the water and further discussions may take place between the clubs.
“Stevie is being kept informed every step of the way of their interest, as he has been from the start. There has been no cloak and dagger stuff.
“Three offers have been made but none came close to our valuation of a player we have brought through the youth system and farmed out on loan to progress his career. He is a player I want to hold on to so it would take a very serious offer from any club to lure him away.
“Stevie knows how highly I regard him and that is reflected in the fact he has featured in all five matches this season.”
“I wouldn’t want to lose him to any club but the chairman does have a valuation on Stevie,” said Wright.
“But right now I have told him he is only a few games into a new season in the top division in Scotland and he just has to keep progressing. If he is selected to face the England under-21s (tonight) I am sure he won’t let this affect him.
“It certainly didn’t cause a problem against Killie.”
Meanwhile, keeper Alan Mannus had an injured shoulder x-rayed yesterday after pulling out of the Northern Irealnd squad for their match against
Russia and is a serious doubt for Saints’ clash with Ross County at the weekend.
“We’ll have an anxious wait to see how serious the damage could be,” Wright said.
“He took a bad knock late in the game. It is obviously a concern because he has started where he left off last season. He has been in superb form and as I said at the weekend he rates among the top three keepers in the country.
“As things stand we can’t put a time scale on it but we are keeping our fingers crossed it is not too serious.”
Reflecting on the point at Ayrshire, Wright noted: “It was a good point for us at Killie.
“I was delighted with it after our midweek shift against Minsk. We maybe didn’t contribute as much as we’d have liked going forward but we put in a great defensive display and people did their jobs effectively.”