Watford have not received a bid for any of their players and are continuing to “monitor the situations” of their three loan signings who are due to return to their parent clubs next week.

With the transfer window reopening on New Year’s Day, both Adrian Mariappa and Marvin Sordell are expected to be the subject of approaches, with the latter linked to Premier League strugglers Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers this week.

But Sean Dyche confirmed yesterday: “I’m happy to say we haven’t [received any bids], so that’s important.

“Those have been there since last summer so they’re not fresh ones,” he said of the speculation over Sordell and Mariappa, who continues to be suggested as a target for Swansea City, before adding with a smile: “I’ll be interested in any fresh ones.

“They’ve been ongoing for a long time now, but no bids, so that’s the main thing and it is that time of year when everyone gets a present and the agents will want a present as well, so they play their part.

“In a way it’s a strange kind of positive but it is a positive that people want your players.”

While Dyche waits to see if any offers are tabled, another concern is the futures of Craig Beattie, Michael Kightly and Nyron Nosworthy, whose loan deals are due to expire after Monday’s game at Portsmouth.

Beattie’s first-team chances have been limited since his arrival from Swansea, but Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Kightly and Sunderland defender Nosworthy have been instrumental in the Hornets’ revival, which has seen them lose only one of their last ten league games.

Dyche said: “We’ll just monitor the situations and see what comes of it. Obviously the reality is the parent club are always the powerful club. We’re monitoring that and aligning things as we see fit if we have to replace or if we have to change the team around.”

Owner Laurence Bassini discussed the forthcoming transfer window in Saturday’s club programme and said: “Preparations have been ongoing throughout the season in regards to our likely recruitment activity. We signed a number of players through the summer, and will again be looking to significantly strengthen the squad.”

Asked whether the use of the words ‘significantly strengthen’ suggested a busy month was on the horizon, Dyche responded: “It may be.

“I think it’s fair to say that if the right player comes along at the right place, right time etcetera, which I’ve stated all along in pre-season as well, then I think the owner, the board will see fit to do the right thing. And some of that will be in lieu of what possibly could happen with the outgoings.

“We’re not quite rich enough to go out and cherry pick who we want, with what we’ve got now, but we’ve got to be ready for that if one of ours go.

“If you are a Man United of this world, they’re already looking at the one they’re getting in without worrying about the one that’s going out, so we have to balance ourselves a bit more keenly and a bit more wisely.

“But if the right player comes along, right price, right situation, then as Laurence stated, I think the board and the owner will see fit to do that.

“The guidelines for that are yet to be seen.”