Boss Paul Jewell says he’s hopeful that Connor Wickham will stay at Town for the 2011/12 season but admits that it would be difficult for the Blues to turn down “silly money” for a striker of his calibre. The England U21 international, who turned 18 today, was again the subject of transfer speculation in this morning’s tabloids with claims that Tottenham will make a £15 million move in the summer.
Jewell said: "I’m hopeful that he’ll stay here. But at the end of the day we are at the mercy of a big club, let’s be honest with you.
"If Liverpool or Tottenham come in with money that we can plough back into the team, silly money, we’d have to listen to it. If he does go, he won’t be going for cheap."
The Blues boss hopes Wickham's top flight ambitions can be achieved with the Blues: "I think he’s best staying here and having another year here, hopefully getting us a few goals, hopefully getting us in the Premiership and then he’s a Premier League player.
"But it’s going to be difficult for any club at this level to turn down any offer from one of the top teams.
"If it was one of the smaller Premier League teams I don’t think Connor would want to go, but if one of the top clubs came in, it’s hard for them to say no. But we’re not actively looking to sell him.”
Wickham recently signed a new contract until 2013, while it’s speculated that he could add an extra year to that deal now that he’s turned 18.
Meanwhile, Jewell has dismissed reports claiming he is targeting former Blue David Wright, who is now at Crystal Palace.