Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp has reportedly rejected the chance to join Celtic or Nottingham Forest, according to the Daily Star.
The ex-Red has instead said that he will fight for his place at Bramall Lane, despite falling way down the pecking order.
Sharp has started just one Premier League game this season and hasn’t scored since the opening day of the season in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
The report claims that both Celtic and Forest had asked questions about the 33-year-old, with Sheffield United unwilling to stand in his way should he want to seek first-team football.
The £12,000-a-week (Spotrac) star is defiant at the moment, however, and wants to fight for his place.
MORE FOREST STORIES
David McGoldrick, Lys Mousset, Oli McBurnie and Callum Robinson are all seemingly closer to the first-team than Sharp right now.
Forest have made no secret of their desire to sign a striker and a short-term deal for Sharp would have been ideal.
The experienced player spent a season on loan at the City Ground during 2012/13. He scored 12 goals and registered six assists as Forest narrowly missed out on the play-offs.
Last season Sharp netted 24 goals to lead the Blades back to the top-flight against the odds.
As a boyhood fan of the club, he would have relished the chance to lead the line for Chris Wilder’s team in the Premier League.
That hasn’t transpired, however, and Celtic and Forest had expressed a firm interest in the player.
Nottingham Forest News View – Sharp would have been shrewd January addition
The beauty of signing Sharp would have been his proven ability at Championship level.
Sharp proved last season that he is capable of leading the line on his own or as part of a two or three-pronged attack.
Whoever does sign for the club will need to oust Lewis Grabban from the team or wait patiently for a chance and that might not have suited the striker.
As the days tick down between now and the end of the window, Sharp might have a chance of heart. If he does, Forest could do a lot worse than secure him on a short-term deal.