Mark Hughes: 'Bojan Krkic not for sale'

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has claimed that Bojan Krkic does not want to leave the club next month despite reported interest from a host of Premier League sides.

The Spanish forward moved to the Midlands from Barcelona in 2014 and has since found the net seven times in 28 appearances, including three times during the current campaign.

That form has apparently attracted the interest of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, who are plotting bids of around £15m when the transfer window re-opens in January.

While a sale at that level would net the Potters a 15-fold return, Hughes is insistent that Bojan is going nowhere next month.

"It's a couple of weeks before the bonkers season; we're very near to January so these stories start to raise their head," Hughes told reporters. "It doesn't surprise me, I don't think it's with any foundation. Bojan is an exceptional talent. Is there going to be interest? Possibly. But we wouldn't encourage it.

"If you look at what Bojan has said this week to other media outlets, he's said he's very, very happy here. A big part of why he's doing well is the confidence that he has in the club, the team, the people around him.

"That allows him to perform and he's been to other clubs, big clubs in Europe, he's done that and didn't quite find what he's found here. He's quite happy at the moment so I don't think he's agitating for a move in January certainly."

Stoke, who face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, currently sit 11th in the table.