RALPH Hasenhuttl responded to firm questioning on star Che Adams’ future and insisted: “He is our player and we will definitely not sell him this summer.”

The 26-year-old striker has scored four goals in two games after winning Saints’ matches versus Leicester City and Cambridge United.

Scottish international Adams had been subject to reported interest from the likes of Everton this summer, and CEO Martin Semmens insinuated every player has his price earlier this month.

But following Adams’ return to form and first goals since February, questions on the interest have continued.

Asked if he can categorically confirm no bid has been made for Adams, Hasenhuttl responded: “I can categorically say that he is our player and that he will stay with us, we love him and especially when he scores goals.”

Asked to categorically confirm he will not exit the club, Hasenhuttl added: “He is our player and we will definitely not sell him this summer.”

He continued: “I am more concentrating on getting him into the position to score goals, his mood in the last weeks has changed completely since he scored, since we changed shape this helps him definitely and I think this is the reason he feels more comfortable in this role."

Asked about Adams' ability to battle with Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez, who is five-foot nine-inches tall, Hasenhuttl insisted it will not be a deciding point.

“I think it is not that easy in football to say he is a little bit small and he is a little bigger so it will be easy," he said. "It is not that easy in football so we will not be so stupid to feel that way. But this is definitely in our plan so hopefully we see that on Saturday.”

Adams is set to start for Saints when they welcome Manchester United to St Mary’s in a return to Premier League action, on Saturday, August 27 (12:30PM).

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