Phil Parkinson has welcomed the transfer speculation swirling around his City players.
Huddersfield have again been linked with a potential move for Nahki Wells and Coventry are understood to be keeping close tabs on Nathan Doyle.
Parkinson stressed the Bantams had heard nothing from either club – but has no problem with the transfer-window stories doing the rounds.
The City chief said: “I don’t mind the speculation because it shows they are doing something right. My job is to make sure the players don’t get carried away.
“With what we have achieved so far, you would be disappointed if there wasn’t any speculation in the papers. We’ve got to keep it there and the way they do that is to keep playing well.
“Someone like Nahki has to remember what got him to this position and why everyone is talking about him.”
Huddersfield boss Simon Grayson refused to comment on a potential link with City’s 17-goal top scorer but did say they were always willing to look at players in lower leagues.
Parkinson once again repeated that nobody has been in touch with the club about their prize asset.
He said: “We haven’t had any call at all (in this transfer window). There was a League One club about three months ago who asked about Nahki and I told him straight away.
“If a club was in for anyone, we’d be respectful to those players and let them know. But I can honestly say that myself and the chairmen haven’t received any calls.
“I’ve heard nothing about Nathan either and, with the greatest respect to Coventry, I don’t think they are in a financial position to buy any of our players at the moment.”
Parkinson is still hopeful of adding “one or two” more before the window shuts in a fortnight. He may also consider letting some of the fringe players go out on loan.
“There are a few in there we’ll look to loan out if they’re not going to be involved, like we did with Ross Hannah,” he said.
“If there are a couple who feel they are on the outside, we don’t want players without a realistic chance of getting in the team.
“We’ll be fair to anybody who’s not in the team; that’s only right. We don’t want to keep anyone here who’s not happy.”
City’s profile has rocketed thanks to their incredible Capital One Cup progress and Wells has inevitably grabbed the headlines. Leeds and Wolves have also been linked with him.
But Parkinson is delighted that the Bermudian, who signed a new long-term contract at the start of the season, has not let his head turn.
“We’ll continue to work with Nahki but his TV interview after the Aston Villa game summed it up and showed that his feet are on the ground,” said the City boss.
“He knows what he’s got to do and goes about his business. I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s conducted himself. It’s so important that he does continue like that.
“Nobody’s going to achieve anything without the team working together. On the back of that, the individuals might get the plaudits.
“The minute you start playing your own game and thinking about yourself, the team suffers. Do what you do well for the team.”
Port Vale, who yesterday signed left back Daniel Jones from Sheffield Wednesday, have hired warm air blowers to try to beat the big freeze and get tomorrow’s game on – but it is looking very unlikely.
City have already beaten the League Two leaders away in the JP Trophy but have a score to settle from losing 1-0 at Valley Parade.
Parkinson said: “They are in good form and have a striker (Tom Pope) who’s got 25 goals, which has been an enormous help.
“But I honestly feel that without the distractions of the cups and the injuries we’ve had, we should be right up there with them and my job is to get us back there.
“We know Port Vale have got some very good attack-minded players and we’ve got to make sure we’re strong enough to deal with that.
“But equally I’m just as confident we’ll create chances against them, as we’ve shown in the previous two games.”
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