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No bids for Dean - Doncaster

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has refused to identify Canary striker Dean Ashton as the man he wants to fill Nathan Ellington's boots - despite one national newpaper report of an imminent ?7..5m raid for the City front man.

Ellington yesterday completed a ?3 million switch to West Bromwich Albion leaving a large situation vacant at the sharp end of the Premiership new boys.

Over the weekend, reports were circulating linking Jewell to a second Carrow Road raid following his summer swoop for wantaway midfielder Damien Francis.

However, the Latics' chief has dampened down speculation that City's England Under-21 striker could be the man for them.

?I saw the report in the paper,? said Jewell, quizzed over the Ashton-for-Wigan link.

?And, yes, we are after good players and we need a striker.

?But I don't think it is fair to talk about players at other clubs and I doubt Norwich would want to sell him anyway.?

Not in a month of Sundays, would be the Carrow Road verdict. Likewise, it is difficult to see Ashton being overly taken by a switch to the JJB Stadium when he appears happily settled into his new Norfolk surroundings following his ?3 million switch to the Canaries last January.

Today city chief Neil Doncaster said: ?We have had a number of clubs interested in Dean but we have received no bids and we are not looking for any bids - we are not looking to sell the player.?

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Posted By: eddie, Aug 16, 12:58:41