Fulham manager Mark Hughes has warned off potential suitors by announcing that he has no intention of selling his prize assets.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal as gunners boss Arsene Wenger looks for a replacement for the inconsistent Manuel Almunia.
The 37-year-old Australian stopper had been hoping to join the north London side and experience Champions League football for the first time. However, Hughes insisted he would not sell top players like Schwarzer or defender Paul Konchesky who has been continually linked with a move to Liverpool.
“There is always interest in quality players but it’s not my intention to allow the better players to leave the club,” Hughes told the press at his unveiling on Tuesday.
“I hope that we are in a position that we don’t have to sell our better players and I would suggest that both players mentioned will still be Fulham players by the end of the window.”
‘I have only just come through the door but obviously it is a situation that we want to resolve quickly. We are not in the business of allowing our better players to leave and Mark comes into that category.”
The former Manchester City manager also outlined his plans for the rest of the transfer window.
“I think it’s fair to say we need more attacking options so we will look at that. Everybody knows that good strikers come at a premium so I will have to talk to my chairman and see if we can address the situation.”
Reports had suggested that Hughes may have looked at Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City but the former Welsh international distanced himself from these players.
“I never like to discuss players at other clubs, but it is something that happens. Given that you have mentioned certain players I would suggest that maybe they are a little bit out of our scope.”
