TOWN look like losing Luke Beckett after this weekend's trip to MK Dons.

The game at the National Hockey Stadium marks the end of a successful month's loan which has made the 28-year-old a transfer target for at least five other League I clubs.

Doncaster Rovers are reported to have tabled a £100,000 bid while The Blades themselves may recall Beckett to the bench for their FA Cup fourth round replay against West Ham United on Sunday, just 24 hours after he leads the Town attack at Milton Keynes!

"Neil Warnock (United's manager) has made me aware that other clubs are bidding for Luke and we are not in a position to compete with them in terms of the fees being talked about and the big wages that Luke is on," said Town chief Peter Jackson.

"We knew at the start of it all that Luke's time here would more than likely be short-term to give everyone a boost, and he has certainly done that with his goals and his overall play.

"I knew and my board knew there was little or no chance of signing him permanently and, realistically, the priority for strengthening our squad right now is elsewhere.

"We have Pawel Abbott as one of the top scorers around, Andy Booth is in great form, John McAliskey has just been capped by the Republic of Ireland Under 21s and Junior Mendes looks like coming back to real form, so we have the options up front.

"I need to try and bring in a defender - hopefully this week but, if not, next week.

"I know which defender I want to bring in, I have already spoken to his club and it's just a matter of trying to come to some sort of agreement."

Jackson confirmed he will extend Beckett's loan if at all possible but the club will not be making a permanent bid.

Meanwhile, Danny Wilson's Dons upped the ante for Town's visit when scoring a fine 4-1 win at Bradford last night to go two points from safety. Town's chief scout Brian Young watched.

McAliskey went on after 71 minutes in the Republic's 2-0 defeat in Portugal while Lee Fowler lost 4-0 to Germany with Wales Under 21s.