Sunderland have reportedly rejected a loan offer from Scunthorpe United for rising prospect Duncan Watmore.
Watmore has been on many clubs' radar as he continues to impress for Sunderland's Under-21s side.
Scunthorpe are one of the teams wanting to sign the 20-year-old on loan, but have been rejected by the Black Cats.
"We have to be totally respectful towards Sunderland," Iron boss Russ Wilcox said, according to the Sunderland Echo.
"We've made three or four enquiries right from back in pre-season.
"It's a player we keep monitoring, a player we keep looking at, a player we'd like to see here at Glanford Park."
Watmore earned himself a one-year extension to his contract, which keeps him with the Black Cats until 2016.