Ross County face a fresh battle to retain Ross Stewart after Premiership rivals Hibernian stepped up their interest in the Staggies forward.
Stewart was in demand in January following an excellent start to his first top flight campaign with County, with Hibs and Aberdeen having been keen to land the 23-year-old.
An offer from an unnamed English League One club was rejected on the January transfer deadline day, while Championship clubs Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers were also credited with an interest.
Hibs boss Jack Ross remains keen on Stewart, who he signed from Albion Rovers when he was St Mirren manager in 2017, with the Edinburgh club believed to have restarted discussions with the Staggies.
County are likely to demand a six-figure fee for Irvine-born Stewart, who has a year remaining on his contract.
Stewart proved a shrewd signing when he was drafted in by Staggies co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson from St Mirren in 2018.
After helping County secure the Championship title, Stewart made a successful step up to the top flight in which he netted 11 goals in the first half of the season.
After suffering a hamstring injury in the final game of 2019 away to St Johnstone, Stewart made his return from a two-month lay-off as a substitute against Motherwell in March, before starting County’s final match prior to the coronavirus shutdown at home to Rangers.
County’s players yesterday returned to Victoria Park for the first time since being put on leave following the suspension of Scottish football due to coronavirus on March 13.
The Staggies players were tested for COVID-19 at a station set up outside the stadium’s East Stand, ahead of their return to training on Thuesday.
Players underwent tests without leaving their cars, with the results checked by the club’s new £35,000 testing machine.
Staggies chairman Roy MacGregor said: “We are very fortunate to have our own academy at Ross County so we have 10 or 11 changing rooms. We would use all the facilities for social distancing.
“At first, the players won’t even go into the stadium.
“They will go from their car with their training kit to the pitch and then they will come back out and go home. The only part of the stadium that will be used is the medical room.
“We have to make sure that is cleaned regularly and enable us to deal with any injuries to players.
“This is the start of a journey and how fast the journey goes depends on the health of our nation.”