West Bromwich Albion have poured cold water on Diomansy Kamara's claim that he could be set to move on in January by politely pointing out that he is not for sale.
Kamara has suddenly become hot property as a result of his devastating two-goal foray from the substitutes' bench in last Saturday's 4-2 home win over Leeds United.
Having gone away on international duty with Senegal this week, he reportedly told African journalists: "The transfer window opens in January and I have agreed with the chairman that I can leave if the club do not look like going up."
Kamara also insisted that he has not only had offers from two Italian clubs, but one in England too. But Albion have hit back by insisting that they have no plans to sell Kamara, who was rewarded with a new three-year contract, plus a year's option in the club's favour, just two months ago.
Kamara's claims are the sort of story that regularly crops up when, freed from the shackles of their club press officers, foreign players go away on international duty and talk more openly.
Occasionally, the exact truth also gets lost in translation.
But it would certainly be a surprise if Kamara, signed by Bryan Robson 14 months ago from Italian club Modena for #1.5 million, had a long queue of admirers.
The pacy 25-year-old African flier has claimed that he is unhappy playing outside the Premiership. But it was down to the fact that he and his fellow Albion strikers could not find the net last spring that sent Albion down.
Kamara scored just twice in 29 appearances, a strike rate he doubled in the space of last Saturday's dazzling 45 minutes against Leeds.
His second-half strike partner Kevin Phillips was impressed.
"Joe (Kamara) has come back excellently from his injury," said Phillips. "And to come on and make an impact like that was superb.
"I know Joe was disappointed not be included on the bench at Luton. But that just shows the qualities of the manager because he has brought on a player who has not played a lot this season and he can only get better."
