Barnsley manager Keith Hill has slammed reports linking captain Jacob Butterfield from a move away from Oakwell in January or the summer.
The tabloid press has gone into over-drive over recent weeks as we creep up to the opening of the January transfer window with a host of clubs linked with the 21 old England Under 21 international who has really shone this season after being given a regular berth, and the captain’s armband by Hill.
Everton, Southampton and Aston Villa are the latest clubs linked with moves for the former Manchester United trainee, but Hill has hit back at the rumours claiming that Butterfield is not for sale next month, and because of his age, will not leave on a free this summer if he does not take up the new contract that the club have offered him.
Hill told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We've offered him a substantially improved contract and if it has to go to a tribunal it will, Jacob Butterfield is not leaving this club for no money in the summer - he's not available on a free. I just don't understand how players trust and have the ear of an agent who dictate where players end up.
"There's no question to be answered about Jacob Butterfield's future - it's at Barnsley football club."
Hill did though admit that a six-figure offer around the £2m mark would be difficult for The Reds to turn down adding:
"Now if the type of money you were talking was to be offered on the table then the club would have to consider it."
Meanwhile the club have moved to entice more supporters through the turnstiles in January by downgrading the pricing of two home matches from Category A to B matches. The clash with Millwall on Saturday 21st January 2012 and the match with Derby on Tuesday 31st January 2012 have been reduced from £30 for adults, £18 for OAPS and juveniles and £7 for Under 12s, to £23 for adults, £13 for OAPS and juveniles and £6 for Under 12s.