Cottagers target Scharner
16 Jan 2008 - 13:57:49
Fulham have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Austria international Paul Scharner from Wigan Athletic.
The Cottagers made an approach for the 27-year-old, who can operate in midfield or in central defence, earlier this week, but the Latics are in no mood to part with one of their key performers.
Manager Steve Bruce told the Evening Post: "We have turned down a bid from Fulham. I don't want to say how much it was and I haven't a clue if they will come back with another.
"But the last thing I want to be doing after we've built up a head of steam is to disrupt things.
"It would take a hell of a lot of money to tempt me to sell Paul. He has played particularly well for me at centre-back."
Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson had earlier told his club's official website: "I think there's an imbalance in the squad in terms of size more than anything else.
"We have a lot of players who are similar types of players and are not very big in stature."