Fulham boss Chris Coleman insists the Cottagers will not be “bullied” into selling leading leading scorer Louis Saha.
The Welshman maintains he has no intention of selling Saha, who has two-and-a-half years left on his contract.
“Nothing’s changed. He’s not for sale,” insisted Coleman.
“We have been saying all along he’s not for sale and that hasn’t changed. It doesn’t matter if there’s a third, fourth or fifth bid, he’s not moving.
“The chairman’s firmly behind me on that, he knows it’s not the right time to lose Saha at the moment.
“Could you see Southampton selling James Beattie in January? Who sells their striker in January just because it suits another club or even if it suits the player? It doesn’t suit us and that’s that.
“He’s under contract so he’s not going to just get up and walk out. If it was in the summer it would give you time to plan, but it’s half way through the season and it would be so disruptive to lose one of my best players at this stage.”
Coleman, far from happy at the way Saha has been targeted, is concerned that the player could be disrupted by the transfer talk with Fulham entering an important phase of their season, beginning at Middlesbrough.
However, the Fulham manager is hopeful his leading marksman will be able to handle it.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of outside influences getting at Louis and I don’t like the way everything’s been handled, but that’s out of our hands. We can’t do anything about that,” he said.
“But he’s got two-and-a-half years left and this season he’s been outstanding, but he’s got a team of players behind him as well.
“We’re not a one-man team, although he is important to us.
“Of course everybody wants to play for the top teams and play in the Champions League and I’m sure that will come to him, but it won’t be coming in January.”
Middlesbrough have been handed a boost as they bid to solve their goalscoring problems with the news Cameroon international forward Joseph-Desire Job will not be going to the African Cup of Nations.
Steve McClaren's front line have been struggling for form of late, with just four goals in nine games to show for their efforts.
A double strike from attacking midfielder Juninho helped Boro earn a 2-2 draw at Blackburn on Boxing Day, while an own-goal and Bolo Zenden's effort saw off Notts County in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Job had looked lively before undergoing a knee-ligament operation in September and only made his first-team comeback at the weekend.
The French-born striker feels he is in need of match practice and so has decided not to travel to Tunisia for the competition, which kicks-off on January 24.
"After a long-term injury going to the African tournament would have been too early," he revealed. "I prefer to stay with Middlesbrough.
"I was pleased with my comeback. My knee stood up to the test. I was not sure whether I would be a substitute, but the manager asked me to play from the kick-off."
Boro will, though, be without midfielder Jonathan Greening, who has been ruled out for at least two months with tonsillitis
McClaren is not surprised by the continued good form of the Chris Coleman's side, whom many tipped to be among the relegation battlers.
McClaren said: "Chris Coleman has a talented squad. There are several good players in his side and they will want to maintain their good work in the second half of the season.
"It will be a tough game, but hopefully we can follow on our return to scoring form against Notts County."
|
The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough
Premiership 20 - 07 Jan 04 |
Pos |
Boro |
Fulham |
Pos |
| Games Played |
|
18 |
19 |
|
| GOALS |
| Goals |
20 |
14 |
30 |
4 |
| Ave Goals Per Game |
|
0.78 |
1.58 |
|
| % Goals To Shots |
20 |
8% |
14% |
5 |
| Shots |
16 |
169 |
207 |
7 |
| Shots On Target |
16 |
73 |
95 |
6 |
| Ave Shots Per Game |
|
9 |
11 |
|
| Ave Shots On Target Per Game |
|
4 |
5 |
|
| % Shots On Target |
12 |
43% |
46% |
6 |
| PASSING |
| Short Passes |
|
4290 |
4980 |
|
| Long Passes |
|
2091 |
2086 |
|
| Total Passes |
13 |
6046 |
7185 |
7 |
| Ave Passes Per Game |
|
336 |
378 |
|
| % Overall Pass Completion |
|
73% |
71% |
|
| Ave passes completed per game |
|
245 |
268 |
|
| CROSSING |
| Total Crosses Made |
20 |
339 |
346 |
19 |
| Ave Crosses Per Game |
|
19 |
18 |
|
| % Overall Pass Completion |
|
19% |
27% |
|
| Ave Crosses Completed Per Game |
|
4 |
5 |
|
| DEFENDING |
| Goals Conceded |
5 |
18 |
26 |
12 |
| Ave Goals Conceded Per Game |
|
1.00 |
1.37 |
|
| Tackles |
14 |
484 |
639 |
1 |
| Tackles Won |
15 |
361 |
471 |
1 |
| % Tackles Won |
9 |
73% |
75% |
5 |
| Ave Tackles Won Per Game |
|
20 |
25 |
|
| Clean Sheets |
1 |
10 |
7 |
8 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
10 |
268 |
271 |
9 |
| Average fouls per game |
|
15 |
14 |
|
| Yellow Cards |
10 |
32 |
32 |
9 |
| Fouls per Yellows |
11 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
10 |
| Red Cards |
|
0 |
2 |
|
| Figures in the Pos columns indicate position in Premiership |
 |
|