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.
“As well as getting goals, he is making chances for others, his hold-up play is good and he is winning balls in the air.
“He is buzzing in his own unassuming way. He’s not loud and he’s never brash, but you can see he has a spring in his step.
“He’s playing fantastically well and he’s enjoying his football, so why change anything?
“I know what the chairman has said about the situation, both publicly and privately to myself and the players, and I trust him.”
While Clark quashed rumours of a move for Leon Clarke, the Swindon striker who has been on loan at Chesterfield, he said: “I do have two players in mind.
“I have been looking at them for a while, and if we can get them I would be delighted. But if the deals don’t happen, I won’t chase players for the sake of it.”
