He refused to name the teams involved, but Portsmouth and West Ham admire full-back Nicky Shorey, Sunderland are reportedly chasing Stephen Hunt and both Middlesbrough and Bolton are keen on James Harper.

"We have players who obviously want to remain in the Premier League and who feel they should be playing in the Premier League, and there have been speculative phone calls and a couple of bids - three at the very most," Coppell said.

"Some players have come to me and said things along the lines of 'if anybody comes in with an offer for me then I would like to go'. "I can understand their attitude. They have tasted the Premier League and they all want to be there, and the quick and easy way is the transfer and to sign a contract somewhere else.

"But we don't have to sell anybody. Players are under contract and we have no financial pressure to sell."