SPECULATION about Plymouth Argyle making a player-plus-cash offer for Rotherham United's prolific striker Adam Le Fondre has been rubbished by manager Peter Reid.

But there remains a strong possibility of arrivals and departures at Home Park before the transfer window closes at 6pm today.

Herald Sport understands three deals involving players leaving the Pilgrims were being worked on as the deadline approached.

And Reid has made no secret of his desire to add at least one striker — on loan, rather than on a permanent contract — to his squad.

A website report yesterday claimed Argyle had offered cash plus striker Rory Fallon to Rotherham for 23-year-old Le Fondre.

But Reid told Herald Sport: "That's absolute rubbish. I don't know anything about it."

Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore tried to sign Fallon earlier this month, but the New Zealand international was not interested in moving there.

It would not be a surprise, however, were the 28-year-old striker to leave Home Park before the deadline today.

He has also been linked with a return to former club Swansea City.

Cash-strapped Argyle would welcome any money in transfer fees, as well as the subsequent reduction in their substantial wage-bill.

Le Fondre has been a regular goalscorer for Rotherham since signing from Rochdale last August.

He has netted 35 times in 56 appearances for the Millers, making him their most prized asset.

Le Fondre has scored five goals this season, with four of them coming in an amazing 6-4 win at home to Cheltenham Town.

Meanwhile, Argyle defender Chris Barker is waiting to find out whether his loan move to Southend United will be extended.

His initial one-month spell with Paul Sturrock's League Two club ended after the Shrimpers' 2-0 win at Bradford City on Friday.

Barker, 30, has been told by Reid he has no future at Home Park.

That was further emphasised when the versatile defender trained with the Pilgrims' youth squad yesterday.

Sturrock signed Barker for Argyle from Queens Park Rangers in August 2008.

They were reunited at Southend when Barker moved to the Essex club a week before the start of the season.

Barker has started all six of the Shrimpers' matches this term — four in League Two and two in the Carling Cup.

"I would like to keep him but the finance will dictate the situation," said Sturrock. "We are in discussions with Plymouth and the lad."

At first, Barker played at left-back for Southend, but has since moved into the centre of defence.

Sturrock added: "I had Chris playing there for a while with Plymouth and he does a good job."

There have still been no further developments in Jim Paterson's possible transfer from Argyle to Greek Super League club Kavala.

Paterson, 30, had a trial with Kavala last week and talks about a move have been taking place since then.

The versatile left-side player was used as a late substitute in Argyle's 3-0 defeat by Peterborough United at Home Park on Saturday.

Left-back Lee Molyneux (hamstring) and midfielder Dean Parrett (shoulder) were both taken off in that match with injuries.

But the pair took part in training yesterday morning, as did Paterson.

Reid, meanwhile, believes 18-year-old Argyle duo Jordan Trott and Sean Kinsella will learn a lot from their one-month loan spells with Bridgwater Town.

Trott, a left-side defender, and Kinsella, a centre midfielder, signed for the Southern League Division One South and West club on Friday.

But the paperwork was not done in time for them to play in Bridgwater's 1-0 home win against Street in the FA Cup extra-preliminary round the following day.

Kinsella has a one-year contract with Argyle, while Trott has a deal until the end of December.

Reid said: "Reserve league games are few and far between and these lads need games. It's important for them to be playing regularly at their age."

Trott and Kinsella have yet to play a competitive first team match for the Pilgrims, but both went on the pre-season tour to the Netherlands in July.

PLYMOUTH Argyle defender Reda Johnson has been thrown out of Benin's national squad for a second time, according to reports emerging from the west African nation.

Johnson was supposed to be heading for Cotonou, Benin's capital, this week to prepare for Sunday's African Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi.

It seems he will be staying in England, however.

Benin fired all 23 members of their African Nations Cup final squad in February for 'indiscipline and a lack of patriotism' after poor results in the competition.

Their new coach, Jean-Marc Nobilo, named 10 of the 23 in his squad for this week's game against Burundi, but the Federation refused to accept two players – Johnson and midfielder Mouritala Ogunbiyi.

According to Le Matinal newspaper, the pair are 'always undesirable to the Federation'.

The decision to banish Johnson from his country's squad, if it is final, will not affect the postponement of Plymouth's League One home game against Brighton on Saturday, because the Pilgrims have three other players on international duty.