SWINDON Town manager Luke Williams admits the club are watching young Crystal Palace forward Keshi Anderson and Peterborough United midfielder Harry Beautyman but claims previous reports have exaggerated their interest in the players.

Last month, Posh director of football Barry Fry revealed that Town are keen to sign 24-year-old Beautyman, who has been transfer-listed at London Road.

It is also understood that the County Ground club would be one of the preferred destinations should Anderson, 21, be allowed to leave Palace on loan.

Williams conceded that the duo were players that Town had looked at as part of their summer recruitment drive, but stated that no deals were in the offing imminently.

“Both players we know and both players have qualities – to talk about them being close to signing would be wrong,” said Williams.

“They’re certainly players that we know about and have taken some time to look at video of them and try to get a feel for what the players are like.

“We know Harry as a personality as well, he is somebody we respect. I think at the moment, it is speculation and nothing is close to being signed.

“We have looked at them and we have taken some interest. I think pursued in terms of negotiation is a bit wide of the mark but they’re on our radar.”

Meanwhile, Williams hopes this week’s pre-season training trip to Ireland will instil some togetherness within the camp.

Town set off on their six-day tour to Dublin yesterday in an effort to accelerate their preparations ahead of the coming campaign and they play the first of two friendly matches in the Irish capital this evening.

Williams’ men take on Shelbourne at Tolka Park tonight before rounding off their tour against fellow League of Ireland outfit University College Dublin at UCD Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

After a fortnight training in Wiltshire followed by Saturday’s opening friendly of the summer at near-neighbours Swindon Supermarine, Williams is keen to see a tight-knit bunch return to SN1 at the end of the week.

“It’s a chance for the players to bond a little bit and to get to know each other, they’ll be with each other morning, noon, and night,” Williams told BBC Wiltshire.

“They’ll be forced to get on with each other and it will be a chance to focus on some work without distractions of friends and family for that period of time and try to really bed in some ideas for the new players and reiterate some things for the players that have been here for a bit longer.”