No bids for Wickham, says Jewell

Wickham was an unused substitute in Sunday's European Under-21 opener Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell has rejected speculation suggesting the club has received offers for highly rated striker Connor Wickham.

Liverpool and Sunderland have been reported to have tabled bids for the England Under-21 international.

But Jewell told BBC Radio Suffolk he has yet to receive an official approach for the 18-year-old.

"There's been enquiries, there's always enquiries, there's been enquiries ever since I've been here," he said.

"Enquiries don't mean anything, I could get through to Barcelona and enquire about Messi, I don't think I'll get him.

"We don't want to sell Connor Wickham, but if he wants to leave and the right offer comes in then we'll have to consider it.

"But until then - Connor's never given me any indication he wants to leave - our backs aren't against the wall, we're in control of the situation."

Wickham, currently with Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad for the European Championships in Denmark, signed a new deal in April keeping him at Portman Road until 2014.

Since making his debut as a 16-year-old, Wickham has gone on to make 33 starts and 32 substitute appearances in the Championship, scoring 13 times.

He was at the centre of a summer of speculation 12 months ago but fended off questions about his future with confidence, stating his desire to remain in Suffolk.

And while Jewell has yet to receive a firm offer, the Town boss expects interest in the teenager to be high.

"Things will start hotting up as we come back for pre-season," he said.

"I know how it works, a manager thinks he's got a squad together and something happens injury-wise pre-season and he'll look around seeing what's available.

"So there's no point getting up tight about it."

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