Tottenham Hotspur's struggles to strengthen their squad for the new season have continued, after it was revealed they have had bids for Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Bologna forward Gastón Ramírez rejected.
Spurs currently boast just one recognised striker in Jermain Defoe, with Mexico's Olympic gold medal winner Giovani dos Santos - who has been loaned out thrice by the club - the only other attacking alternative.
With 41-year-old Brad Friedel André Villas-Boas' first-choice goalkeeper, the the club are keen to recruit a younger replacement, and Lloris is 16 years Friedel's junior.
But Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told French radio station RMC: "Hugo wants to play at one of the best clubs in Europe. This year there was an approach from Tottenham that was quickly rejected.
"If he absolutely wants to leave, we will look at the proposals but they must be consistent with what we want. If not, he will stay."
Uncertainty over Luka Modrić's future could be key to Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy making more funds available for Villas-Boas, whose only signings have been Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Modrić is wanted by Real Madrid but the Spanish champions are reluctant to part with the £35m-£40m valuation Tottenham deem the Croat to be worth.
Spurs have however recouped £22m from the sales of Roman Pavlyuchenko, Wilson Palacios, Niko Kranjcar and Steven Pienaar this year, as Levy risks further accusations he is being miserly.
The club did substantially raise Gareth Bale's weekly salary when he inked a new four-year contract in June, but the thinness of the squad and the flimsiness of the team's spine is offering cause for concern.
Gastón Ramírez's agent Oscar Betancourt meanwhile informed Calciomercato: "The only solid offer is the one from Tottenham, who offered €16m [£12.6m] .
"But the deal didn't go through because Spurs offered too low a wage to the player and if the wage difference is minimal he would stay at Bologna.
"Tottenham could raise their offer if they sell Modric and in that case the deal could be done, otherwise Ramírez will stay another year at Bologna. We also talked with Liverpool but nothing more."
Uruguayan Ramírez scored eight goals in 33 Serie A appearances for the Rossoblù last campaign and is only 21-years-old.
Spurs' bid to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent also appears to have stalled after a successful season on loan from Manchester.