Che Adams will not be leaving Southampton in January, despite interest growing in the former Ilkeston striker.
Sabri Lamouchi’s Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are two of the Championship promotion hopefuls understood to be keen on signing the £15m man when the window opens later this week.
On Tuesday morning it was reported that Marcelo Bielsa had made Adams his top target, if Arsenal recall striker Eddie Nketiah from his loan spell at Elland Road.
Despite speculation increasing, the Daily Echo have poured cold water on suggestions Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will allow the 23-year-old to leave St Mary’s.
“However, it’s understood by the Daily Echo that the St Mary’s side won’t be leaving themselves short in the attacking department which rules out Adams’ departure,” said the Echo.
The Premier League strugglers only have Shane Long, Michael Obafemi along with Ings and Adams up front, meaning Hasenhuttl is reluctant to weaken his attack for the second half of the season, given he prefers to operate with two frontmen.
Without a goal for his new club, Adams has found himself back in the fold on the south coast, and started the surprising 2-0 win at Chelsea on Boxing Day, after leading scorer Danny Ings was rested by the Saints’ Austrian boss – his first start since September.
