SCUNTHORPE United have played down reports linking them with a £250,000 move for Oldham winger Chris Taylor.

Manager Ian Baraclough admits speaking to the Latics about the 24-year-old wide man, but suggested it has only been a tentative enquiry.

Whether it becomes more hinges on the future of the Iron's Martyn Woolford, who is out of contract in the summer and has been a target for Nottingham Forest.

If United's top scorer is sold before the transfer window closes on Monday, Baraclough is keen to have a contingency plan in place.

"I've said I don't want to lose anybody and Martyn Woolford is an integral part of what we're trying to do," he told the Telegraph last night.

"That's why we make the moves we do, because we've got to guard against being short.

"If I am caught short, there's something there. But that's just me trying to cover all bases.

"Everybody has got their price, so I've got to make sure those targets are there in case something happens."

Left-sided Taylor, who has also played off the shoulder of a lone striker this season, is one of League One's liveliest wingers.

He won't be arriving at Glanford Park before Saturday's clash with Preston, but the Iron manager remains hopeful of completing some business.

"Something has come out that we've made an enquiry for Chris Taylor, whether that's the agent trying to drum up a bit of interest I don't know," added Baraclough.

"He's one of many players we've asked a question about.

"There's not too many days to go now and I'm hoping to do one or two bits of business."

“I’m not going to name targets, because that’s something that has come back to bite us on the backside.

“All I will say is that January is showing to me that it is full of laughably-inflated prices. It’s proving very, very difficult for everybody by the sounds of it to get the people that they want.

“Things are hotting up, but ideally I would like to have somebody in for Saturday.”

If the Iron do heighten their interest in Taylor, the Telegraph understands Oldham are likely to be looking for nearer the £400,000 mark before they part with the tricky winger.

“He is bang in form at the moment and has been attracting a lot of scouts,” said a source close to the League One Latics.