Team Lineups

Milan: Our top players are not for sale

Milan Mandaric says he has no intention of allowing any of Wednesday’s top players to leave Hillsborough during the January transfer window.

And the Owls chairman is ready to allow Stuart Gray to bring in two or three more signings before the end of the month to bolster the possibility of a late push for the play-offs.

With reports linking Keiren Westwood and Tom Lees to Premier League clubs after outstanding performances to date, Mandaric said: “Our main objective, responsibility and commitment to our supporters is to progress the club. We are not going to do that if we sell our best players. They are not for sale and there is no intention for them to be sold.

“If anything our intention is to bring in two or three players before the end of the month, rather than losing some of our best players.”

He added: “I have always said I will do everything I can to progress the club but that if someone else can come in and accelerate the programme then I will be willing to step aside.

“Most important is to progress this club and get it eventually to the Premier League and we all want to do that sooner rather than later.”

Mr Mandaric spoke about how he had helped to stabilise the club after it “had not been going in the right direction for many, many years” and how he had needed time to get it going in the right direction.

He added: “That’s where we are now, we are solid and we need to go to the next step. This is a good time to really challenge ourselves and see how far we can go.”

With regard to reports of a possible takeover by a Thai consortium, the chairman confirmed talks had taken place. However, he added that the story had not come from him and that he would only comment if there was any further information to tell the fans.

He said: “There is dialogue going on … but it has to be right for the buyer, the seller and, primarily, for the club.”

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