Chris Hughton confirmed on Monday afternoon Norwich City have not made a bid for Blackburn centre-back Scott Dann – and reiterated none of his stars are for sale during the final days of the transfer window.

Hughton insisted reports of a £3.5m move for Dann were wide of the mark but refused to be drawn on speculation linking the Canaries with fellow centre-backs Steven Taylor from Newcastle and Lazio's Michael Ciani. Hughton is adamant City remain in the market for reinforcements ahead of the window closing at 11pm on Friday night.

'I think we are at the stage now where you would probably understand what I would say if you put a lot of names to me. We are trying to make ourselves as active as possible,' he said at Colney ahead of Newcastle's Premier League visit to Carrow Road on Tuesday. 'There will always be names that will be bandied around. The majority I can assure you have no substance. Some will be because of agents asking questions or putting names to us. I want to deal in fact and we have not made a bid for Scott Dann. Steven Taylor is one I can understand why we are being linked because of my previous connections to the player.

'Regards that one (Ciani) again, that is all part of the rumour mill. Of course we make phone calls and enquiries to see if players are available and amongst all that there is speculation. We are looking to improve the squad. We are competitive at present and we now have the likes of Alex Tettey and Anthony Pilkington fit and back in the squad.'

Hughton was happy to quash reports of a £3m move by the Swans for Pilkington prior to the weekend and also brushed off talk of Nathan Redmond making a surprise exit to the Welsh club.

Wes Hoolahan and Robert Snodgrass have afound themselves the subject of interest from potential suitors during this transfer window and Hughton accepts that comes with the territory.

'Nathan is very happy here,' he said. 'He is one who has had a lot of involvement here. He is a very well-grounded young man who is improving his game week in, week out. He is a very mature young man and we are delighted to have him here and he wants to develop and improve here.

'Any potential rumours for our players is a testament to what we are trying to do here. It is not welcome, of course, but we must be doing something right, but there is no fact in any bid for Anthony from Swansea.'

Hughton also dismissed reports of an approach from Sheffield Wednesday to take Luciano Becchio on loan.