Motherwell have rejected late transfer interest in Zimbabwean striker Tawanda Maswanhise, manager Jens Berthel Askou has confirmed.
The Fir Park boss revealed that the 18-goal forward had been targeted by clubs across Europe, including Anderlecht, Celtic and Blackburn Rovers.
Despite the speculation, Askou insisted that Motherwell were never close to parting ways with their star man.
“Very easy to say no” to several offers that were put in for the forward as Motherwell aim to keep momentum in what has been a fantastic season for the Steelmen.
“It’s a club decision that we want to see if we can push as far and build on the momentum we have built and build on the quality of the squad we have in the building”, Berthel Askou said.
Jens Berthel Askou said despite Maswanhise attracting significant interest from clubs worldwide, but no offers met Motherwell’s valuation, so the club decided to keep him.
“Obviously, he has attracted an extreme amount of interest from all over the world and also from the UK and a little bit earlier than we expected and perhaps he expected.
“There has been offers, but they have not been at an amount that has been anywhere near the valuation we have put on him, so it has been very easy to say no. Now is not the time to change the plans that we have made.”
Jens Berthel Askou stressed that Motherwell take an open, planned approach to player development, ensuring players progress at the club before moving on at the right time.
“We have good open dialogue with the players and we make plans for them and with them.
“We will make sure they develop while they are here and then find the right moment for them to leave.
“He’s happy, we are happy and it hasn’t been complicated.”
The Motherwell manager expects interest in Tawanda Maswanhise to intensify over the summer, with clubs from “bigger markets” likely to make moves.
“We absolutely expect that to be the case. “We also expect clubs to start coming in earlier as they will have to be in a little bit better time than some were now.
“The interest is only going up for him, because he’s a good player and he will keep scoring goals and developing.
“The summer window is also usually a little bigger and all eyes are on him.
“More clubs will be interested in him, probably in bigger markets.
“So I expect it to be a busy summer around him,” he added.
