IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell has today dismissed rumours that teenage striker Connor Wickham is on the verge of moving to a Premier League club

The 18-year-old – who is currently away with the England Under-21 squad the European Championships in Denmark – has been heavily linked with both Liverpool and Sunderland in recent weeks, with figures between �8-10m mentioned.

Speaking to the EADT and Evening Star this morning, Jewell revealed he has received no firm bids for the striker though and insisted that the the club doesn’t need – or want – to cash in on their exciting young asset.

“We don’t want to sell Connor Wickham,” said Jewell. “If Connor Wickham wanted to leave and the right offer came in then we’d have to consider it.

“However, Connor’s never given me any indication he wants to leave so our backs are by no means against the wall.

“There have been enquiries (about Wickham), there’s been enquiries about him since I’ve been here. I enquire about players all the time though and there’s a difference between enquiries and bids.

“Enquiries don’t mean anything. I could get through to Barcelona and enquire about Messi – it doesn’t mean I’d get him!”

Jewell – who has already signed striker Michael Chopra from Cardiff as well as centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson following his release by Reading – added: “We’re in a position where we don’t have to sell anybody.

“If we get a bid for anybody, no matter how good it is, it will have to suit us. I’ll only consider a bid if I think it is the best thing for us or if the player doesn’t want to be here.”

– For Paul Jewell’s plans in the transfer market, see tomorrow’s EADT and Evening Star.