Everton have insisted they will not sell Wayne Rooney even if they are offered £50m for the England striker.
Rooney has emerged as one of the stars of Euro 2004 and speculation linking the 18-year-old with a move to Manchester United or Chelsea has been rife in recent days.
However, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright says he will turn down any offers for Rooney.
“David Moyes and I agreed Wayne has to be a £50million player now,” said Kenwright.
“I would turn down any bid for him and say: ‘Thank you very much. What else do you want to talk about?'”
“We do smile about what Wayne is worth but, then again, we also talk about who’s going to be alongside him with us next season.
“We know what Wayne’s value is and our price is that he is an Everton player and we have no reason to believe that will change.
“I am not here to sell my best players and Wayne wants to stay. Wayne will continue at Everton.”
“As for a £50m bid for him, well, there’s only one person who will ever make that kind of decision. Not Bill Kenwright, not the Everton board, but the Everton manager.”
There have been no bids for Wayne, absolutely not. No approach from Chelsea, nor Manchester United.
“I have heard talk of Manchester United having a done deal. But I have had no contact whatsoever with United, and you would think they would ring, wouldn’t you?”
Everton chief executive Trevor Birch dimissed the latest rumous as mere speculation.
“It’s all conjecture. The definitive position is that he is not for sale,” Birch said.
“You don’t sell your best players. Ask any chief executive or manager and they will tell you the same thing. If someone is saying they will pay £100m, then of course you are going to think about it, but we’re not in that position. It is complete speculation.”
Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes, who is reported to endure a frosty relationship with Rooney, claims the striker is part of hisplans for the future.
“I don’t see anyone from Wayne’s side, or anyone from Everton’s side, saying anything about him being transferred,” said Moyes.
“Yet there is endless speculation. Everton have been going through hard times and my aim is to improve them with Wayne Rooney’s help.”