Caley Thistle manager John Hughes is determined to keep his Inverness squad intact for the remainder of the season.
Captain Richie Foran, leading scorer Billy McKay, midfielder Aaron Doran and defender Gary Warren are among the players under contract for next season, but the talent scouts from south of the border are already circling the Caledonian Stadium.
A host of English Championship clubs have McKay on their wanted list, but Hughes wants to make sure no one will leave the Caley Jags in the January transfer window.
He said: “I want to keep this squad together for the rest of the season.
“As for bringing players in, I think we already have good numbers here. I see players on the training pitch who are constantly catching my eye.
“You never know what they can do until you give them a chance.
“I know the players and if they get a chance they will want to take it and stay in the team.”
Hughes wants to promote from within after implementing a successful youth policy while in charge at Falkirk for six years between 2003 to 2009.
He added: “I had some real finds at Falkirk in the transfer market with Anthony Stokes, Tim Krul, Kasper Schmeichel and Paddy Cregg, but at all the clubs I have been at I have really worked hard in the youth academies.
“I was delighted to see the Falkirk team which played Rangers in the Scottish Cup last month had six kids from the academy when I was there.
“It is something I am really big on, there is nothing better for the local support than seeing one of their own out on the field.
“If you bring in the wrong character then he will not last long. We would have to bring in someone who is prepared to muck right in and be someone I can trust.
“I could put a bad apple in the dressing-room and it could spoil it.
“I could maybe get away with one maverick who could win us a match – but we can’t have too many in that team.”