Jefferies is looking to add another striker to his squad

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has denied bidding �150,000 for Linfield striker Peter Thompson.

Reports last week suggested Linfield had rebuffed the offer for the Northern Ireland international.

But Jefferies told BBC Scotland: "It's nonsense. We have made an enquiry about a player that is not available but we'll keep looking.

"Because Gary Wales and Paul Di Giacomo have moved on we feel we're a bit short up front."

Killie, who finished second bottom of the Scottish Premier League last term, also lost Steven Naismith and Colin Nish during the course of last season and have so far only been able to bring in one new striker in the shape of Allan Russell from Airdrie United.

Jefferies will look at some trialists during the club's upcoming training camp in Italy and has also made some enquiries with English Premier League clubs about the possibility of setting up a loan deal for a striker.

"I always feel you need four strikers to cover injuries and it's an area where freshness counts," he added.

"With the players that we lost last season, we really need to bring in another one. That's the only department we're looking to strengthen."

The Kilmarnock boss says players' wages are making it difficult to attract and keep players at Rugby Park.

"We try and give them what we can afford but you find clubs that are on the same level can go that �100 or �200 a week more and it's a lot of money to the players and you can't blame them.

"Financially, sometimes its hard to resist it because it can make a big difference. They've all got mortgages and families to pay for.

"We lost a couple of players last year not to the Championship but to two divisions below that and they could pay more than we could.

"If you look at the some of the non-league clubs down south, players get just as much money as they get here so that's what you're up against."