Hodgson holding on to Odemwingie

13 April 2012 16:47

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson is adamant star striker Peter Odemwingie is not for sale and insists the Nigerian will be at the Hawthorns next season.

Hodgson has rubbished speculation linking Odemwingie with a move to Fulham in exchange for Andrew Johnson.

"Peter Odemwingie is an important player for us and a player we believe in and a player we want to keep and a player who is not for sale," Hodgson said.

"We don't welcome offers for Peter Odemwingie. He is a West Brom player at the moment and will be next season."

Odemwingie was Albion's top scorer with 15 goals last season and has netted another 10 so far in the current campaign despite a series of injury niggles.

Hodgson worked with Johnson during his spell in charge at Craven Cottage.

But he said: "It is very irritating when people just out of the blue suddenly start linking us with other players.

"He [Johnson] did a great job for me but, to be fair, he is not a player we've actually discussed in terms of next season."

Albion have a group of players out of contract or approaching the final 12 months of their current deals in James Morrison, Jonas Olsson, Keith Andrews, Nicky Shorey, Steven Reid, Paul Scharner, Jerome Thomas and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Hodgson said: "I don't think the situation we are in is any different to any other club. Every club has players who are either running out of contract or entering the last year."

Source: PA