Wigan have not made an approach for Aberdeen skipper Graeme Shinnie, according to manager Derek McInnes.
Dons boss McInnes spoke to Latics manager Paul Cook earlier this week, who indicated they had not put forward a pre-contract to Shinnie.
The Scotland cap is out of contract at the end of the season and has held off on negotiating a new deal at Pittodrie. Wigan are aware of Shinnie’s situation but have not put any offer to him.
McInnes said: “Paul Cook is actually one of my best friends in football and he phoned me on Wednesday to say there was nothing in it. There’s been no offer to Shinnie and he hadn’t spoke to Shinnie or his agent. He did say that Shinnie was a player he was aware of and liked but there was nothing in it.
“I’m quite used to speculation following my own players and I’ve been linked with certain players. Some you take with a pinch of salt, some are factually true, some are bang on the money. When players are out of contract in this window, it’s something we’re all used to.
“It’s just as it’s been really. He indicated in September or October that he wanted to wait and look at his options. Nothing has really changed with that. As far as I’m aware, Graeme said he would give me an indication in January at some point and we’re halfway through the month now and I’m sure we’ll have a discussion before the end of the month. Nothing’s changed.
“We’re keen to keep him and we’ll do all we can to keep him. If Graeme indicates that that’s he’s preferred option then hopefully we can get the deal done. We’re certainly hoping that’s the case. But it’s the January window and when you have players out of contract, speculation will follow that. That’s just par for the course.”
McInnes is far from giving up on losing his skipper in the summer and has previously said the club will make strong financial offers to both Shinnie and Mackay-Steven to retain them.
He added: “I’m sure there’ll be clubs monitoring him. He hasn’t signed with anybody and the window has been open a while now, which suggests we’re still in the running. We have a really good relationship so I have an understanding of where he’s at. But we all have decisions to make in life and weight it up, regardless of where it is.”
McInnes also distanced the club from links to Huddersfield left-back Jaden Brown, while any loan move for Scott McTominay is unlikely given interest from other Premier League clubs.