EXPERIENCED midfielder Curtis Woodhouse remains a top transfer target for new Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth.
The Stags are also looking at bringing in a new keeper this week - throwing the future of loanee Paddy Gamble into doubt with reports that he has already been told he will not be asked to extend his stay at the Mill - and possibly a central defender.
It is also rumoured that Holdsworth is considering bringing two players from his former club Ilkeston to Field Mill in the January transfer window.
On Friday Holdsworth admitted that he is interested in Rushden captain Woodhouse - as revealed by Chad the previous day - but tried to dampen the speculation.
However, it is thought that the delay in signing Woodhouse was to try to allow him to serve a one-match suspension first.
But that plan was scuppered on Saturday when Rushden's match at Salisbury was called off because of the freezing weather.
Now it is not clear when the footballing boxer - once a teammate of Holdsworth's at Sheffield United and Birmingham City - will come to Field Mill.
Woodhouse has been told he can leave the Diamonds and Holdsworth admitted 'Curtis is the type of player that I am in interested in . . . he is one of many players I am looking at'.
Holdsworth has made it clear that he wants to shore up the number of goals being conceded by the Stags, so a new keeper and central defender must also be on his shopping list.
That means Nottingham Forest keeper Paddy Gamble (20), who has made 28 appearances this season, could be on his way back to the City Ground at the end of a half-season loan.
Gamble has struggled for consistency for the Stags, who have officially said they are still in discussions with the player.
The new Mansfield manager may return to his old club again - this time for a player.
Having brought three members of his coaching staff from the Robins to Field Mill, it is now rumoured that Holdsworth wants central defender Kieran Murphy to make the same journey.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international defender was at MK Dons last season when Holdsworth was a coach and moved to Ilkeston in the summer.
There is also speculation linking Holdsworth with tree strikers, even though he has said sorting out the defensive side to the Stags' game is his first priority.
- Click here to read sports editor John Lomas' review of 2008 at Field Mill
The three forwards mentioned in the speculation are former Port Vale striker Louis Briscoe, whom Holdsworth took to Ilkeston just a month ago; the vastly experienced Daryl Clare who, like Woodhouse, is being allowed to leave Rushden and Rotherham forward Tom Cahill, currently on loan at Ilkeston.
Briscoe (20), who didn't make a first team start for the Valiants, has been at Ilkeston since just before Christmas, following spells at Stafford Rangers and Gresley Rovers earlier in the season - leaving both clubs because of financial problems.
Prolific striker Daryl Clare (30) is leaving Rushden for a club closer to his Lincolnshire home to support his wife and new-born daughter.
The prolific striker – who has twice won the Conference championship and golden boot award – moved to Nene Park last summer on a free transfer from Burton Albion after missing out on promotion through the play-offs.
He has played almost 300 first team matches and scored at a rate of around a goal every two matches.
Cahill has impressed during his time at the Robins and scored twice on Saturday.
Another experienced striker now available is David Graham (30), released by Lincoln this month. Graham, who started his career at Rangers, was once signed by both Wigan and Sheffield Wednesday for more than £200,000. The much-travelled forward has had 11 clubs.
