Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed that the club have been rejected in a bid for Bristol City's defensive duo Aden Flint and Joe Bryan.
Earlier this week it emerged that the Midlands side had put in a joint offer to take Flint, 28, and Bryan, 23, away from Ashton Gate, having monitored them closely in pre-season.
"The club made an offer for two lads, I went to Bristol City and saw them play last week," Redknapp told reporters. "I was very impressed with them, they look a really good side. Lee Johnson's got them playing some good football.
"We made an offer for a couple of players but it got rejected. You're entitled to make an offer - someone said somebody is upset or something, I don't know why.
"We've had offers here as well for players. What I've found this year when I walked in, I've had a few players who the club paid good money for in January. We've had to almost give them away and subsidise wages to get them off the wage bill."
Redknapp has brought in four players so far this summer - Craig Gardner, Marc Roberts, David Stockdale and Cheikh N'Doye - and is also said to be chasing a deal for Ashley Cole.
Neil Wilkes
