Keith Hill has rebuffed an approach from Championship rivals Millwall for captain Jimmy McNulty.
The 27-year-old was named Players' Player of the Year last season and was made captain by Hill this summer despite reputed interest from Leicester City.
He joined from Brighton last summer after an injury-blighted spell on the South coast but played in all but two of the Reds' league games last term, scoring twice.
It is the second time this week that a fellow Championship club has been knocked back in a bid for a Reds player after a bid for Matt Done by Crystal Palace was rejected.
Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with defender Martin Cranie. The former Coventry man is in talks with Barnsley but is not expected to sign before the seasons curtain raiser against Middlesbrough on Saturday.