Ralph Hasenhuttl has reiterated the important role that Che Adams has to play for Southampton this season.
Adams has been the subject of intense interest from Leeds United this month after Arsenal decided to recall Eddie Nketiah at the start of the month.
That has left Patrick Bamford has the only fit senior striker in Marcelo Bielsa's squad - something which has forced the Yorkshire side into action.
According to Phil Hay, Che Adams is regarded as Leeds' top target this month, but according to reports their interest may have run its course.
The Yorkshire Evening Post have reported that the Whites have had another loan bid rejected for the Southampton star.
It's claimed that Leeds offered 'a substantial' loan fee as well as a £20million payment in the summer to make the move permanent.
It remains to be seen whether the promotion contenders will go back in with another offer for Adams, but in truth it's likely that they could focus their attention elsewhere.
Hasenhuttl has maintained a consistent stance regarding Che Adams' role on the South Coast, and speaking in his pre-Tottenham press conference, he insisted that the striker is still a big part of his plans.
As quoted by Leeds Live, the Southampton boss said: "I've recognised it that now our players are interesting for other clubs.
"That shows that we do a good job here because they want to have him.
"He's not playing at the moment all that much but I think he feels how important he is for this team. I need every player in my squad and this is what I always tell them so for us there is no option because we need every player.
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"I trust every player and I did it also in the moment when we haven't been as successful so this squad, we need and I don't want to let anybody go."
He added: "I don't want to talk about any rumours.
"What I can say is nobody was in my office and wanted to leave us, also we don't have to sell any players. Maybe we want to bring one or two in but we still have our eyes open, we need every player at the moment. The squad has a good balance, we have a fantastic atmosphere.
"All of the success we have had in the last weeks was based on one or two or the first XI, it was based on 28 players going in the same direction and I don't see any reason why I should change this."
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The verdict
The search for a new striker looks like it's set to continue for Leeds United.
With Eddie Nketiah moving on the Whites have been linked with several different options already this month, with Che Adams seemingly the number one target.
However Southampton are adamant that he's not going anywhere.
Ralph Hasenhuttl does not want to let the striker leave this month, and it seems that the Whites may have to look elsewhere if they're to get a deal done.