Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has made it clear that none of the clubs youngsters will be offloaded this winter.
The likes of Gary Mackay-Steven, John Souttar, Ryan Gauld, Andrew Robertson and Stuart Armstrong are all attracting interest from Everton and Swansea City who have both watched the quintet in recent times.
However, Thompson insists that only a very good offer from any interested parties will see any of the key group of five depart Tannadice anytime soon.
"No one will leave United this month - not unless a very exceptional offer comes in," Thompson told the Sunday Mail. "And by exceptional offer, I don't mean any of this £400,000 or £500,000 stuff.
"We don't need to sell. We want to build this team up, not dismantle it. Our aim is that this side will be together for the rest of this season and hopefully into next."
He added: "Some players leave for all the wrong reasons and end up falling into reserve teams.
"The best - or worst - example I can think of in recent times is Scott Allan. Scott was a great player but he hardly kicked a ball when he went to West Brom. His career has gone nowhere in two years.
"Young players such as Gauld, Armstrong, Souttar and Mackay-Steven are better off playing and learning under Jackie McNamara.
"These players will leave eventually, of course they will. What we don't want to do is lose anyone under freedom of contract. Right now, though, we don't need to sell anyone."
