MK Dons boss Liam Manning says he must act with ‘integrity and respect’ as he tries to lure Dawson Devoy from Bohemians.
And Devoy's departure would be yet another hammer blow to the Gypsies whose squad was decimated further tonight when Andy Lyons agreed to join arch rivals Shamrock Rovers.
Lyons had been tracked by clubs in England, including Crewe and Shrewsbury, but compensation for the Ireland Under-21 international proved an issue.
Instead, the Hoops have swooped for the 21-year-old free agent who will sign over the weekend after four years at Dalymount Park.
The Gypsies will be due compensation from the league champions.
Bohs - who have signed Cheltenham Town defender Grant Horton on loan - are also resigned to losing ace midfielder Devoy to League One promotion hopefuls MK Dons
Quizzed on Devoy, Manning said today: “I'm not speculating on other people's players, and it's important to operate with a level of integrity and respect.
“He's attached to another club at the minute, so it's not right to comment or commit one way or another.
“But I think we're looking at three or four (signings), possibly plus a loan.
“We have to have depth to churn out the number of games we need to. I'm expecting a busy week ahead because we need to add more bodies."
Devoy, one of the rising stars of the League of Ireland, only signed a new Gypsies deal in December.
But there is a release clause in that contract and Dons are prepared to trigger it after selling Matt O’Riley to Celtic on Thursday.
Meathman Devoy, 20, is the reigning PFA Ireland ‘Young Player of the Year’ after a standout year for Bohs who reached the FAI Cup final.
But that team has been obliterated with Georgie Kelly poised to leave the league, Lyons on the move while Ross Tierney, Rob Cornwall, Keith Ward and Anto Breslin have already left.
Former captain Keith Buckley has moved to Australia while fringe players Stephen McGuinness and Bastien Hery have also signed elsewhere.
New arrival Horton has agreed a season-long loan from League One outfit Cheltenham Town.
The Englishman, 20, made nine appearances for the Robins this season including two league appearances and another in the FA Cup.
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