Taylor refuses to rush as transfer deadline looms

Graham Taylor, the Aston Villa manager, has insisted he will not make any panic signings before the transfer window closes at the weekend after failing to sign the Ipswich midfielder Matt Holland.

Taylor – who admitted he has "one or two irons in the fire" – has been linked with the likes of Muzzy Izzet, David Batty, Tim Cahill and David Thompson as he looks for more strength in the centre of the park.

But the Villa manager is adamant he will not sign anyone who does not enhance the quality of his squad as he prepares for tonight's home Premiership match with Manchester City.

Holland informed Taylor on Monday of his decision to stay at Portman Road even though he had been offered a better deal than his current contract which still has four years left to run.

"It was a difficult decision for him and I respect his decision," Taylor said, "but now we have to move on – although there is not much time before the transfer window closes. But I have always been of the opinion there is no point in panicking to sign somebody, even on transfer deadline day.

"We do have one or two irons in the fire. It is right to say that. We shall pursue those, but we won't be held to ransom. If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen and we shall get on with what we've got."

Cut-price players could become available as 31 August approaches and he said: "It would not surprise me if in the last three days of this week that generally we might get a bit of action.

"I would do that if I thought it was right, but I won't be pressed into it because you live to regret things if you just sign someone for the sake of it. As the weekend gets closer, it might be a little bit like a game of poker in that the closer you get to the deadline, who is going to move first?"

Taylor confirmed that he has still received no offers for his transfer-listed defender Alpay, who will again be missing against Kevin Keegan's side with an ankle injury sustained for Turkey against Georgia last week. Taylor said: "His agent is working very hard and I am surprised there hasn't been an offer or a club on the phone. That may change."

Taylor is looking for his side to be sharper in front of goal after creating enough chances to have come away from White Hart Lane with a victory. "We've had two defeats and no goals and that is hard to take. The two performances have been very creditable but the reality is that we're down there with no points against our name."