Sharp rejects £3.25m Saints deal as Pilkington stuns Town

Sharp, who was sold by Sheffield United for £1.1m last summer, was offered the opportunity to move to the Saints by Rovers chairman John Ryan.

It is the first time that Sharp has been allowed to talk to another club – including Ipswich Town who lodged a bid of £2.3m for his services last month.

However, his decision to snub the Saints – and a reunion with his former Scunthorpe United manager Nigel Adkins – underlines his desire to move to the top-flight this summer.

With one of the best goalscoring records in the country, the 25-year-old feels now is the time to join the game’s elite.

The Yorkshire Post can reveal Rovers are set for a six-figure cash windfall when former defender Matt Mills quits Reading.

Mills, who was sold for £1.5m two years ago, is wanted by Wolves, Stoke City and Leicester City.

Both Wolves and Leicester have submitted £3m offers while Stoke are moving in after failing in a bid for Birmingham City defender Scott Dann. Rovers will be entitled to 20 per cent of any profit under the terms of any deal – £300,000 if Mills is sold for £3m.

Negotiations over the signing of former Leeds United captain Richard Naylor, meanwhile, are on-going. Naylor, released by Leeds this summer, is keen to join Rovers but may have to accept a pay-as-you-play deal.

Huddersfield Town winger Anthony Pilkington has asked to leave the Terriers.

“Anthony contacted Lee Clark yesterday and said he wanted to leave the club and achieve his ambition to play at the highest level, from the start of next season,” said chairman Dean Hoyle.

“I have spoken to Anthony at length personally over the last 24 hours and tried to convince him to stay but his mind is firmly made up.

”I have told Anthony I will not stand in his way. As hard as it may be, if a Premier League club comes in for him and we get the right offer he will be allowed to leave,” he added.

Rotherham United signed former Huddersfield Town left winger Danny Schofield last night on a free transfer from Millwall, subject to a medical.

Schofield, who started his career at Brodsworth Miners Welfare, has signed a three-year deal.

“He is a massive signing for the football club,” said manager Andy Scott. “He is a real marquee signing and there were a lot of clubs interested in him.”

Sheffield Wednesday winger Jermaine Johnson has ended speculation over his future by signing a new one-year deal.

The Jamaican international was a target for League One rivals Chesterfield but opted to stay at Hillsborough for a fifth consecutive season, while Leicester City winger Lloyd Dyer is the latest player to be linked with the Owls.

Hull City have completed the signings of Nottingham Forest striker Dele Adebola and Leicester City defender Jack Hobbs. Adebola, released this summer, has signed a one-year deal while Hobbs, 22, will cost £850,000 after agreeing a three-year deal.

The Tigers will host Liverpool in a friendly on Saturday, July 23.