David Cuffley City boss Glenn Roeder has shrugged off reports that summer signing Wes Hoolahan could move on in the January transfer window.One national newspaper suggested this week that Hoolahan's former Blackpool boss, Simon Grayson, now in charge at Leeds, was lining up a �300,000 move for the Republic of Ireland international forward just six months after having to sell him.

David Cuffley

City boss Glenn Roeder has shrugged off reports that summer signing Wes Hoolahan could move on in the January transfer window.

One national newspaper suggested this week that Hoolahan's former Blackpool boss, Simon Grayson, now in charge at Leeds, was lining up a �300,000 move for the Republic of Ireland international forward just six months after having to sell him.

But Roeder said he was not about to part with any of his close season recruits.

Hoolahan, 26, began the season as a first choice before falling out of favour for a period in the autumn, but has been one of the Canaries' best performers since his recall.

Six of City's seven Championship wins have come when Hoolahan has been in the starting eleven, food for thought as they face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane tomorrow (3pm).

“I saw it - a tiny little piece in the paper,” said Roeder of the Leeds link. “It was nothing to jump up and down about. I'm not surprised, but where it came from I don't know and I'm not going looking to find out.

“I took that with a pinch of salt. It's January. There will be loads more speculation about everyone's players, including ours.

“Like David Bell, Wes has just started his career at Norwich. He's one of five contracted players I signed in the summer and is one I'm happy with. They've all contributed in their own way. I'm happy with all of them and three of them would cost a lot more than we paid for them.”

Roeder was referring to Hoolahan, winger Bell - linked with Coventry - and midfielder Sammy Clingan.

“Hoolahan cost �200,000 and they cost more than that when you try to buy players out of the Conference. For his ability, when he's on song, �200,000 is cheap,” said Roeder.

“Clingan didn't cost us a penny and is now worth proper money, and with Bell, you wouldn't entertain bids that were anywhere around the �400,000 we paid for him, so there's huge profit in those two players.”

Roeder's own January recruitment drive began on Wednesday when 20-year-old Jonathan Grounds re-signed for City on a two-month loan from Middlesbrough, after making five appearances for the club in September.

He wants three more players - and has not totally given up hope of bringing Reading striker Leroy Lita back for the rest of the season.

“I've been quite honest about it. We need a couple of defenders. We've got one in, so we're still looking for another one, and a couple of strikers,” he said.

“Leroy is very, very much in the balance. His agent told me that Steve Coppell had said to him he would give him a second chance. How long Leroy is prepared to not be in the team - he played on Saturday in the FA Cup - we'll have to wait and see.

“But we need players now, today. There are a lot of games in January that need to be won. Everyone is looking for strikers.”

However, Roeder said two reported targets north of the border - Rangers striker Andrius Velicka and Motherwell's Chris Porter - were not on his shopping list.