Watford have rejected Reading’s bid for Adrian Mariappa but the immediate future of team-mate Stephen McGinn remains in doubt.
Mariappa was the subject of a bid in excess of £2m, including add-ons, but the Hornets have confirmed the offer has been rejected.
The 25-year-old, pictured, has enjoyed the best season of his career, picking up the Watford Observer Player of the Season Trophy, and with only a year left on his contract, the club are likely to receive more bids in the future.
It is unclear whether recently-promoted Reading, whose first-team coach Nigel Gibbs will know Mariappa from his time at Watford, will come back in for the centre-back.
The father of three’s performances in the first half of last season attracted the interest of Premier League sides Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic, who both made bids for the defender.
We understand there have not been any fresh bids for Mariappa, or any other Hornets players, in the last week.
Whilst Mariappa’s long-term future remains unclear, it is McGinn’s failure to sign a new contract with Watford which will be of immediate concern to Hornets followers.
McGinn’s current deal expires on June 30 and despite a new contract being on the table for some time, the midfielder has yet to sign.
The Hornets hierarchy have not given up hope that the player will put pen to paper though, despite his contract expiring in three weeks time.
The 23-year-old has not played a competitive game since February 2011 after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in a collision with team-mate Adam Thompson and forward Jason Euell.
McGinn, who has scored two goals in 42 appearances since his arrival from St Mirren in 2010, returned to full training in March and played a handful of Reserve matches towards the end of last season, but was not handed a first-team outing.
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