Jim Jefferies today laughed off reports of a plan to bring Lee Mills back to Bradford City as the rumour mill kicks into overdrive.

Stories in the south claimed the Bantams have been watching the 30-year-old striker who they sold to Portsmouth for £1m nine months ago.

Mills, who last played for City at the start of the season in the Intertoto Cup, has struggled to settle at Fratton Park. He missed four months with a knee injury and has scored only five times in 25 appearances.

He is already on his third manager at the club and has not played regularly since Graham Rix took over.

Mills was axed for Portsmouth's decisive win over Barnsley on the final day of the First Division campaign and is believed to be available for around £900,000.

Jefferies wants to make three or four signings during the summer and a forward is on his shopping list - but he is not interested in re-forming the Mills and Robbie Blake axis that fired City into the Premiership two seasons ago.

Jefferies is still hoping to win the race for Belgian Joris Van Hout - lined up as a possible replacement for Benito Carbone - although he faces Dutch competition from Twente Entschede and Fortuna Sittard.

Another priority area is on the wing where City have checked out Newcastle's Stephen Glass, who will be out of contract in June.

Jefferies is waiting for chairman Geoffrey Richmond to reveal how much cash is available to spend.

He said: "There are people I'd like to make a move for and it will be done as soon as the chairman gives me the nod at the end of the season.

"I know I've got to work within a tight budget but I've done that before and it doesn't worry me.

"When you look at the squad now, we've got a good nucleus but if you get a couple of injuries you are down to kids on the bench. We need a strong depth with a good balance.

"When I came here we had too many people over 30 and while some clubs can keep them happy with a rotation system, it's not the best environment.

"I'm not saying we won't sign an experienced player but the majority will be in the 25 to 28 age area. These are the players we are after to give us the legs to complement the experience we have with people like Stuart McCall and David Wetherall."

Bradford City will face newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers in a pre-season friendly at Valley Parade on Saturday, August 4. City will also play three warm-up games in the Republic of Ireland.

City reserves face Everton at Widnes tonight (7pm).