It is the East coast's worst-kept secret that Jimmy Calderwood wishes to reaquaint himself with the Pars pair, but Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston is doing his best to appease his club's supporters by leading them to believe he is battling to keep the players.
Yorkston has said that the clubs are "not far away" from a deal for left-back Byrne, but has brushed off the bid for midfielder Nicholson.
Yorkston said: "As far as I am aware, Aberdeen did discuss a fee for Byrne and we are not that far away on that one.
"However, they seem to be miles apart on the value of Barry Nicholson.
"We are not in the ball park at the moment."
However, Stand-Free believes that the transfer of both players will go through before the transfer window closes.