Boothroyd determined to hang on to Young

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd today stated his determination to hang on to “trump card” Ashley Young after revealing he had turned down a £7m (€10.5m) cash bid – believed to be from West Ham – for his star forward.

The England Under-21 international has attracted seven enquiries and five bids - understood to be from the Hammers, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton and Sheffield United – since the transfer window opened at the start of this month.

But Boothroyd appears determined to hold his nerve over Young – and hinted selling the 21-year-old would drastically reduce the Hornets’ chances of staying in the top flight.

“We turned down the bid with a straight ’No’,” Boothroyd said. “There are players out there who have gone for £8m (€12m) who do not have what he has.

“I know we are at a crossroads. Do we have a go at the Premiership, and try to learn from the lessons we have been taught or do we say ’Thanks very much, we are going back down’?

“Ashley is the trump card in the Premiership. There are not many players outside the top four clubs who are better than him. Everyone wants him and I can understand that. But we will not let him go until he says he would like to go and talk to another club. He is an asset on and off the pitch, and the club want him to stay. But the situation always remains that no player is bigger than the club.”

Boothroyd – who has already signed forward Moses Ashikodi from Rangers as well as midfielder Lee Williamson and forward Will Hoskins from Rotherham – met Fulham forward Collins John yesterday after having a £3.25m (€5m) bid for the forward accepted last week.

Dutchman John is believed to be uncertain about joining a club who find themselves 10 points adrift of safety in the top flight, and whose chances of spending a second season in the Premiership already seem remote.

Boothroyd continued: “I met Collins yesterday and I enjoyed his company. I think he is a very intelligent young man, and I am sure he will make the right decision for him. I try to put myself in other people’s position. We are bottom of the league, and Collins probably has big dreams about wanting to play for his country, so I can understand why people might have doubts.“