PLYMOUTH Argyle's steadfast refusal to sell Ipswich Town David Norris is perfectly understandable to Jim Magilton.While the Blues boss is determined to carry on his battle to secure the 26-year-old midfielder he empathises with opposite number Paul Sturrock and the Pilgrims' followers.

Derek Davis

PLYMOUTH Argyle's steadfast refusal to sell Ipswich Town David Norris is perfectly understandable to Jim Magilton.

While the Blues boss is determined to carry on his battle to secure the 26-year-old midfielder he empathises with opposite number Paul Sturrock and the Pilgrims' followers.

Magilton said: “David is someone we still want at this football club so it could still happen for us. We will still try and get him in this window.

“I sympathise with Plymouth and with their fans because they don't want to lose a very good player.

“He is very much part of their set-up and people don't want to lose their best players.

“I would be the same in a similar situation. But at the end of the day he will make us better and we have put in very good offers but they are still holding out so we will have to tempt them again.”

After having a transfer request turned down, Norris is clearly unsettled and it will be down to him to agitate a move but with 18-months left on his contract there may not be much he can do if Plymouth stay resolute.

Town chairman David Sheepshanks has vowed they will go beyond their £1.7m offer. He said: “We have made a huge offer for Norris and we will not be upping that offer.”

Magilton has a similar problem in trying to wrest Gareth McAuley away from Leicester City but has not given up the chase.

He said: “I'm still interested and will go in for him again.

“We have not yet but we are thinking about another bid.”

Another player known to be on Magilton's radar is Coventry City's unsettled striker Leon Best who has been linked with Nottingham forest.

Magilton said: “Leon Best handed in a transfer request and we showed an interest early on, although we have not followed it up. He is a player I like.”

A move for Best would probably only happen if Burnley firm up their interest in Alan Lee, which they had not done so as of last night.

Magilton said: “It is the same situation as over the weekend. There was a bit of speculation but they have not come in with an offer.

“Alan Lee scores goals and he is going to be linked in the window but at this present moment he is not going anywhere.”

Burnley have made a £1m offer to Dundee United for Barry Robson, who have admitted another club have also made a bid but even though Ipswich are among the list of clubs who have been tracking the midfielder, they are not believed to have made an offer.

Town are also looking to clear the decks by getting some of the fringe players and older Academy lads out on loan and have confirmed that Steaua Bucharest had made an unsuccessful attempt to take Jaime Peters on loan.

Magilton said: “It is an ongoing thing. We are having a lot of phone concentrations trying to get players out but at the moment it is not happening.

“Steaua Bucharest have tried again to take Jaime on loan but it is down to Jaime and he doesn't fancy Romania.”

The Blues released George O'Callaghan on Monday and the Irish midfielder has been offered a three-year deal with Cork City which he seems set to accept.