Town boss Roy Keane has revealed that the Blues turned down offers for striker Connor Wickham and a number of other players during the transfer window. The highly-rated England U17 international is closing in on a first team return after the ankle injury he sustained in pre-season training.

Keane says despite the likes of Spurs and Arsenal showing interest in the 17-year-old, Town’s valuation wasn’t met: “The offers or the phone calls weren’t what we believed the player was worth. Connor’s happy here.

“That was a plus and we’ve kept other players for whom we’ve had offers. We’ve turned down offers for a lot of our players.

“We’ve managed to hold on to important players like Connor, that was an important message to the supporters, but that might change in January.

“The club has resisted and rightly so. The offers were very, very big offers and I think that Connor’s got a chance of being a top player.”

The Blues boss says that appreciates that owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg had to allow some other players to move on: “The club will have looked at certain offers for certain players that they feel that we have to accept and that’s the business side of it.

“And I understand that. The owner’s an intelligent man and he knows I have no problem with that. What’s important for me is that I’m always kept in the picture, simple as that.”

The Blues boss says the attention surrounding the Hereford-born frontman isn’t affecting him: “Hopefully he’s got more sense than to take too much notice of people giving him too much credit. He certainly hasn’t changed, he’s not driving a Bentley yet! When he comes in in a Bentley, that’s when I’ll be worried!

“He’s got a good family behind him,” Keane added, “and hopefully he’ll be back involved with us in the next few weeks. He’s been back on the training pitch and it’s given everyone a boost.

“But there are pitfalls ahead of him, as we’ve seen with other young players such as Jack Wilshere over the last few weeks, so he’s got to be careful.”

Keane says Wickham and left-back Mark Kennedy, like Damien Delaney and Luciano Civelli, aren’t far from fitness, although they won’t be involved at Portsmouth on Saturday: “Mark Kennedy and Connor Wickham joined in with training on Monday and Wednesday’s reserve game came a few days too early for them. They’ve trained again today and they’re making good progress.

“Connor trained on Monday for the first time and it’s like he’s never been away. His injury’s fine and what he needs now is a few minutes under his belt.

“We’re pleased with the two boys and it would be nice to have them back in the group, particularly with all the games coming up over the next few weeks. It’s going to be pretty hectic.”

Wickham, Kennedy, Delaney and Civelli are all likely to play in next Wednesday’s reserves game against Colchester at Maldon.

Photo: Action Images

LondonBlue added 09:19 - Sep 10 So he is on Bentley wages ? 0_0
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GermanBlue added 09:25 - Sep 10 He could surely pay the instalments for a Bentley...
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legoman added 09:27 - Sep 10 I reckon wickham will be on the bench and will be given 15 mins at the end.
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wisebluey added 09:37 - Sep 10 So,who's leaving in January then ? Sounds like if the valuation for Conner n met, we will sell ......... worried
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wisebluey added 09:37 - Sep 10 So,who's leaving in January then ? Sounds like if the valuation for Conner n met, we will sell ......... worried
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StavangerBlue added 09:44 - Sep 10 We need to hold onto players like Wickham if we are to get promotion. Continually selling our most promising and better players is a sure way to stay in the Championship or worse still get relegated.
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blue_em_away added 09:46 - Sep 10 “We've managed to hold on to important players like Connor, that was an important message to the supporters, but that might change in January." Don't like the sound of this. I do not expect CW to stay with us for ever, but don't really want him sold mid season. Probably get more for him close season anyway. Fingers crossed we are at the top come the new year and ME feels we NEED him for promotion, and the lad would like to be promoted with us.

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brazil1982 added 09:53 - Sep 10 Wickham is only on a two year contract now - realistically, we would not recover as much as a transfer fee if he were to leave on a free (with compensation paid). Unless we are serious contenders this year, we will have to sell him. At least we should get a good price for him which make a change from years of being ripped off.
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MaySixth added 10:15 - Sep 10 So Wickham is off in January then
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:21 - Sep 10 as the americans say 'wake up and smell the coffee'. every player has a price, man utd had to let renaldo go to spain and eventually arsental will let fabragas go back to spain, it's called the free-market. the trick is to get the max and to spend it well - as keane has just done with walters and scotland.
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Bergholtblue added 11:06 - Sep 10 What happened to Jack Wilshere then?
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robdaful added 11:23 - Sep 10 I like to seee Wickham stay but I don't want him to leave for free. Does anyone know whereabouts our Valuation for Wickham is?
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pitseablue added 11:31 - Sep 10 Lets hope we are top six in January, Then Conner will want to stay and will will need him in the Prem.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 11:33 - Sep 10 If we are in the promotion mix he will stay as there will be far more risk attributed to letting him leave (assuming he is playing well). If we are mid table and play offs look unlikely then he will probably leave, the downside will be less. Simples.
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brian_a_mul added 11:54 - Sep 10 We rejected reported bids of £8 mil from Spurs & Gunners. I would guess he is valued at the £10mil mark. Im sure he would spark a bidding war and his selling price could be much higher (if Chelsea & Man C start sniffing around). With new player/squad regulations, all Premier Teams are looking at home based players for the future!! I believe if we get a full season out of Connor this season we will have done well. If we also can get 15+ goals from him we could be well on way to promotion (which increases chances of keeping him). Jack Wilshire was arrested for being drunk and acting the muppet during the week. And he is a muppet. Lets hope Connor keeps away from that ilk (Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Wilkshire etc) and plays for Ireland.

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Karlosfandangal added 12:40 - Sep 10 I think what Keane is saying here is that depending on the deal then Wickham would be allowed to go if and thats a big if If Wickham wanted to leave. If we were in the mix for promotion I cant see him leaving as he would have a good chance of prem football with us and not sitting on the bench or in the reseves at Arsenal or Tottenham. If we won promotion this year he would be offered a contrat extension and would almost be garenteed to double his wages.

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Skip73 added 12:48 - Sep 10 Stop fretting people, all Keane is saying is that if somebody offered us, say, £15m - £20m in January Whickham would probably be sold.
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FenboyBlue added 12:50 - Sep 10 Connor should hire a Bentley for a day and just turn up to training in it - just to see the look on Roy's face. All good fun, team spirit etc.
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mickeyjb added 13:16 - Sep 10 Or borrow one from one of the other team members! Not sure what cars our boys are driving. Didn't see too many s reg fiestas parked in the staff carpark against brizzel
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Mungo added 13:17 - Sep 10 Brian_a_Mul - "Lets hope Connor keeps away from that ilk (Rooney, Terry, Ferdinand, Cole, Wilkshire etc) and plays for Ireland." Because no Irishmen have ever been drunken muppets! Just kidding! I suspect we would take £8m for CW (it's a lot of money for a very young player) but I imagine what Arsenal and Spurs were offering was along the lines of £1m rising to £8m with appearances, caps, sell ons etc, so not of much interest or use to us. given the current market conditions, £5m up front rising to £10m would probably be enough to persuade the club to sell (like the Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott deals).

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CGH added 14:34 - Sep 10 If he plays for Northern Ireland instead of England he'll never get in a World Cup. End of. A good season and he will be in an England friendly squad next year.
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adamisablue added 16:20 - Sep 10 @london and german blue. the insurance alone woulpd strangle him finacly surely...:) wickham may go injanuray. if he comes into the team soring for fun and someone comes in with a 10, 15 20 mill bid, you have to have a look at that offer. wickham is NOT our rooney. the team doesnt pick itself around him. although he WILL be great, if he comes too far too soon may watse his talent. bobby zamora anyone?

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Back_The_Boss added 17:43 - Sep 10 He will partner Rooney in a few years time for England. No doubt about it.
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brian_a_mul added 11:30 - Sep 11 Thats if Rooney can last a few years kingkeano! Unfortunately I can see this lad having a major melt down very soon. I wouldnt be surprised if he gets arrested if he doesnt behave himself. I hope Fergie has the patience and will to help him! This current england squad is not a great environment for Rooney in this state. This is my fear for Wickham.
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