City have dismissed talk of any transfer window bids for Nahki Wells – and insist it will take “one hell” of an offer to consider letting him go.

The rumour mill has already been full of claims that the 15-goal top scorer is being targeted by several clubs during the January market.

But joint-chairman Mark Lawn stressed they had received no calls about him and would not welcome any.

He said: “You get speculation when you’ve got good players. It’s nice to have it because it means that they are sought after.

“We’ve not had one bid for Nahki and we don’t want any.

“I think Nahki himself is happy here at present. But let’s not kid ourselves, if somebody from a much higher league came in I would have thought he’d find it very flattering.

“Everybody has got a price and I’m not being unrealistic. But it would have to be one hell of a price – a price where we would be able to replace him.

“We aren’t putting him in the shop window for anybody.”

Phil Parkinson is trying to boost City’s ranks with two or three additions and centre forward and centre half look the key areas. He has money to play with from the cash generated from the amazing Capital One Cup run.

Reports from Swindon today suggested that long-time target Paul Benson has rejected a permanent move. The Robins striker is currently on loan at Portsmouth and his family is understood to be reluctant to go north.

Assistant Steve Parkin said: “The manager has been working tirelessly over the past couple of days to speak to players and agents.

“Russ (Richardson, head of recruitment) has been doing the same and we would like to freshen up the squad.

“The players have done absolutely nothing wrong for the first half of the season but, with the illness and long-term injuries we’ve got, it would be nice to add to the squad.

“All the top teams will be strengthening and the likes of Gillingham and Rotherham have already done so.

“The players deserve full credit for enabling us to top up the finances. We’ve heard about this deficit right from the start of the season and the cup run’s helped us to maybe loosen the chairmen’s pockets a bit with the money we’ve brought in.

“It’s important when you are having a season like we are that you try to be progressive. The important thing is that we don’t run out of steam but kick on.

“We’ve had an outstanding season so far and some of the players have had a lot of matches. It would be nice to bring a few in to strengthen things.”

Ross Hannah’s proposed move to Grimsby is still ongoing, with reports that it has hit a stumbling block over personal demands. Hannah missed training yesterday because he was ill.

Parkin added: “They’ve made an offer to the club that has not necessarily been accepted. Negotiations are still going on and I think it’s whether Grimsby can meet the terms that Ross wants.

“If they do that, a decision will be made. Until that’s done it’s pointless talking about anything else.

“The lad has got to think about a) leaving Bradford and b) going to Grimsby and the contract’s going to come into that. When that’s sorted out, I’m sure a decision will be made on him.”

City are looking for their first win of 2013 when they head for Barnet tomorrow. Having slipped to seventh in the congested play-off places, Parkin remains confident.

“It’s important we keep ticking over. It’s very tight at the top and several teams have stumbled over Christmas, including ourselves.

“It’s a difficult away fixture but we’ve got to go there very positive after our performance at Morecambe. We need that level of consistency and hopefully score a few of the chances we created.”

James Meredith is likely to miss only his second league game with the sickness bug that has plagued the squad. The left back kept away from Apperley Bridge yesterday.

City were hoping that Newcastle would agree to extend Curtis Good’s loan, which ended after the Morecambe game. The other Australian defender had replaced Meredith at half-time.

“Curtis is a really talented individual and a smashing lad,” said Parkin. “We’ve seen him play a couple of really good games and he came on at Morecambe and did well at left back for us.

“We’re thin on the ground with defenders and he’s left footed which helps because he can play two positions.”