Huddersfield Town turned down a £1m offer from Brighton for midfielder Adam Clayton.

And now the South coast side, seeking reinforcements following Liam Bridcutt’s imminent switch to Sunderland and Andrew Crofts’ season-ending knee injury, have turned their attention to Charlton’s Dale Stephens.

He was the player whose controversial tackle during last week’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Town left Adam Hammill with an injury to his right leg which makes him highly unlikely to be available against Leeds on Saturday.

Adam Hammill is felled by Dale Stephens' controversial tackle against Charlton
Adam Hammill is felled by Dale Stephens' controversial tackle against Charlton

Clayton, who cost £350,000 from Leeds the close-season before last, has been in bright form for Town of late, and has made 27 appearances, scoring three goals, this season, and 75 (eight goals) for the club in all.

While Town turned down Brighton, striker Jon Stead has rejected a loan switch to League I Coventry, who have sold Leon Clarke to Wolves for £750,000

Stead, 30, returned to his hometown club from Bristol City last summer but has struggled to establish himself second time around.

However Stead, who made a late appearance from the bench in Town’s 2-1 Championship defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday, turned down the chance of regular football.

Walsall are also believed to be keen, but given Stead’s response to Coventry, Town manager Mark Robins’ previous club, the Saddlers seem unlikely to succeed in any bid.

Stead was linked with Sheffield United, one of his former clubs, at the start of the January transfer window, and Robins has said the 6ft 3in frontman needs to be playing regular football.

Having come through the Town academy, Stead burst onto the first-team scene and scored 24 goals to earn a £1.25m move to then-Premier League Blackburn in February 2004.

He has also played for Sunderland and Ipswich, and had a loan spell at Coventry from the Suffolk club in 2010.

He signed a two-year contract in his return to Town, but having suffered an injury in pre-season, has had to make do with six starts, eight appearances from the bench, and one goal.

Arsenal’s former Huddersfield Town loan striker Benik Afobe has agreed a switch to Sheffield Wednesday to the end of the season.