Stephen Hughes was allowed to talk to Hearts and Motherwell

The English Championship club had accepted �50,000 offers for the former Rangers midfielder, who had been given permission to talk personal terms.

But his agent, John Colquhoun, told BBC Sport: "It does not look like Stephen will be moving from Leicester."

The 24-year-old had been placed on the transfer list in May.

And he could yet move if other clubs firm up their interest in the player, who moved to the Foxes from Ibrox in January 2005.

Indeed, Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has not given up on Hughes, or on signing the versatile Adam Virgo on loan from Celtic.

Felix Magathe once again expressed his desire to help us Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

"Steven Hughes and Adam Virgo are still options that we are looking at," McGhee told his club website.

"At this stage, that's all they are as we also have the two Poles on trial in Austria and the possibility of two Germans along with others we have on our shortlist."

McGhee spent a day with his former Hamburg team-mate, Felix Magathe, now head coach with Wolfsburg, while on their pre-season trip to Austria.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Hughes is staying with us. Damn Damn Damn!! fox_edwardo

"It was a good visit, with Felix once again expressing his desire to help us," said McGhee.

"There are a couple of players that he has that could be of interest to us.

"These players are good enough to go straight into our side, but they may need to come over for a period to acclimatise themselves to ensure they want to come to Scotland as this is a new concept for Bundesliga players.