HUDDERSFIELD Town chief executive Nigel Clibbens today quashed claims West Ham have made a £3m bid for Jordan Rhodes and insisted: “Even if they had, they would have been wasting their time.”

With the transfer window opening on Sunday, the Scotland striker who aims to add to a 20-goal tally against Carlisle at the Galpharm tonight (7.45) is one of the most talked-about players outside the Premier League.

But Clibbens was quick to follow owner-chairman Dean Hoyle and manager Lee Clark by saying: “He’s not for sale.”

As Clark prepared 21-year-old Rhodes and the rest of his squad for tonight’s big League I showdown, which is followed by a trip to Notts County on Monday (3.00), Clibbens continued: “It’s great to be in the position of having a player like Jordan on the books, and we want him to continue banging in the goals which would help us win promotion.”

Meanwhile Clark, who says he has two specific signing targets, repeated that he is “relaxed” about the prospect of inevitable speculation about Rhodes, who has also scored six times for Scotland Under 21s this season, and added: “I’m surprised there isn’t more talk about some of my other players as well.

“When you are doing what Jordan is doing, it’s part and parcel of the game that you will be linked with other clubs, and I think he is thriving because of it.

“The knowledge that there are big clubs with very good managers who are interested is inspiring him, and it’s not just about the goals, because all-round game is improving.

“In the last few games he has played a role over which there were question marks last season, and his general play has been top-drawer.