HEARTS defender Alan McManus last night rejected a #100,000 transfer to Motherwell and insisted he wanted to fight for his place at Tynecastle.

The 23-year-old met Fir Park manager Harri Kampman for contract talks after both clubs agreed a deal. However, after careful consideration, McManus decided to stay with the title challengers.

''I had a long talk with Motherwell and was impressed with their set-up,'' said the player. ''However, after thinking things over, I decided to stay with Hearts and try to regain my place.

Meantime, the Motherwell manager was successful in another move and last night tipped Swedish striker Mats Lundgren to be a smash hit in Scotland. The 28-year-old has signed on at Fir Park until the end of the season with the chance to impress and extend his stay.

Lundgren, a former Halmstad player, will make his debut in Friday night's friendly with Partick Thistle at Firhill. He said: ''He's a fast, strong striker and I'm confident he can do well for us. Magnus is a very positive player and a real danger to the opposition around the box.''

As the clubs raced to beat the midnight transfer deadline, Dundee United yesterday fixed up Blackburn's Wayne Gill on loan to the end of the season. Other moves made yesterday were:

Kevin Pilkington to Celtic from Manchester United, loan; Lindsay Hamilton to Partick Thistle from Queen's Park; Myles Hogarth to Airdrie from Hearts, loan; Kevin Thomas to Stirling Albion from Hearts, loan; Steve Tosh to Raith Rovers from St Johsntone; David Ross and Wayne Addicoat to Ross County from Inverness Caley Thistle, both on loan; Joe McLeod, Berwick Rangers, unattached; Jason Blunt to Raith Rovers from Leeds United, loan; Sandy Robertson to Livingston from Inverness Caley Thistle.

Oscar Valli to Dundee United from Walsall; Brian McLaughlin and Andy McCondichie to Airdrie from Celtic, both on loan; Paul Shepherd to Ayr United from Leeds United, loan; Billy Findlay to Ayr United from Kilmarnock; David Hilton to Ayr United from Darlington; Greg Miller to Livingston from Hibernian; Alistair McMillan to Clyde from Rutherglen Glencairn; Steve McPeake to East Stirlingshire from Clyde;

q HEARTS have failed in a bid to sign Austrian Christian Mayrleb, the striker who netted three goals for FC Tirol against Celtic in this season's UEFA Cup.

Mayrleb, who is currently on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, is unhappy at his lack of first team opportunities and Hearts approached him to try and boost their title-chasing squad. However, last night the player said: ''I had talks with representatives of Hearts, but I have decided to stay at Sheffield.''