Confusion surrounded Kyle Lightbourne's proposed transfer to English Premier League club Coventry City last night.

Both City and Lightbourne's club Walsall insisted there was no deal.

But other reports from England suggested that bargaining for the top Bermudian striker could resume this week.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan, the former Scotland international midfielder, confirmed his original interest in the top Walsall scorer when contacted by The Royal Gazette at the team's training ground yesterday.

But he said there was now no chance of Coventry signing the Bermudian.

"There is no possible transfer,'' said Strachan. "There is no truth of any transfer. We have watched the player a few times and did enquire about him.'' However, a report sent out by the Press Association in London last night indicated a deal between the two clubs was still in the works.

It said Lightbourne had yesterday rejected a long-term contract with Walsall which had again opened the doors for negotiation with Coventry.

According to Lightbourne himself, an offer of 375,000 was made by Coventry about a month ago, with the Premier club willing to pay Walsall another 75,000 if they avoided relegation after his signing.

Reports coming out of England on Monday suggested that Strachan was preparing to make another bid of 400,000 for Lightbourne in an attempt to boost his squad for the fight against relegation.

Strachan did confirm to the Press Association his interest in signing Manchester City's 2.5 million rated midfielder Steve Lomas as he tries to strengthen his squad before next month's transfer deadline.

Strachan has had initial talks with Manchester City manager Frank Clark regarding Lomas who earlier this season rejected a 3 million move to Wimbledon.

"I can confirm that we have made an inquiry for Lomas but that is as far as matters have gone at the moment,'' Strachan told a reporter. "I am looking at a number of players at present -- and Lomas is amongst them.'' General manager of Walsall, Paul Taylor, told The Gazette that the club would not be parting with their top scorer.

"I don't think so, it's all talk,'' said Taylor yesterday. "We have turned down a bid for Kyle and we would like him to stay.'' Taylor insisted the club, who sold last year's captain Martin O'Connor and winger Scott Houghton at the start of the season, were not under any pressure to sell their best players. "We don't have to sell because we run on a profit each year,'' Taylor revealed.

However, Taylor told AP yesterday: "Part of our last agreement with Kyle was that if the right bid came in we would not stand in his way because he wants to play at the top level. We are desperate for him to stay at Walsall because we want promotion.'' Lightbourne, picked up by Walsall in 1993 after he had been released by Scarborough in April of that year, has become one of the club's most prized possessions in the four years he has been with them. And they are undoubtedly reluctant to sell him while still in with a chance of promotion.

"Well, he scores goals and is a good lad,'' said Taylor. "I get on well with Kyle and the club gets on well with him. He has done very well for us.

"We bore with him a lot in the early days. We played him out wide on the left in his first season to help him to settle.

"We would like him to stay, but if the right offer came along we would consider it.'' Taylor would not say what the club considers Lightbourne to be worth.

But Walsall may soon have to start listening to offers as Lightbourne, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has already turned down three attempts to have him sign a new contract. Each contract offer brought an improvement of personal terms for the player, but the club are well aware of Lightbourne's ambition to play in the Premiership.

The man who blasted 33 goals for local club PHC in his last season here in 1991-92 has been Walsall's leading scorer in the last three seasons. This year he is again their top marksman with 15 goals and is on course for another 20-goal season.

Since joining the club in the 1993-94 season, Lightbourne has tallied 76 goals for the club, including 10 in his first season in over 30 games while playing as a winger.

In his first full season, the Bermudian hit 27 goals as Walsall gained promotion from the Third Division and last season he scored 24 in his first season in the Second Division.