Hoeness - We don't have to sell

Hoeness determined to hold onto top players

By Thomas Zocher and Jonathan Witty   Last updated: 17th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hoeness - We don't have to sell

Misimovic: Transfer target

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Wolfsburg managing director Dieter Hoeness has dismissed speculation linking midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic with a summer move to fellow Bundesliga side Schalke.

The surprise winners of the Bundesliga crown last season have struggled this season, currently sitting 19 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, which has led to a number of star players being linked with moves away from the club.

Misimovic is under contract at the Volkswagen Arena until 2013, and Hoeness insists he is not prepared to sell the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder.

Hoeness told Deutsches Sportfernsehen: "This is nothing we are talking about and I am not really sure if these rumours are based on something going on with Zvjezdan Misimovic or if some newspaper editors have just started to produce a link.

"He is under contract. If Schalke 04 could come up with £18million, which they are unable to do, then you would never now."

Dzeko

Hoeness claims that there is a similar situation with Misimovic's Bosnian compatriot, Edin Dzeko, with rumours linking the prolific striker with a move away from the Wolves.

After scoring 36 goals in 42 games last season, Dzeko was linked with European giants AC Milan and Manchester United amongst others, and is considered one of the Bundesliga's top talents.

Despite the interest from the Premier League and Serie A, Hoeness is intent on keeping the 23-year-old, but conceded that a huge offer could tempt the club.

Hoeness added: "If one would offer me the chance to choose between Edin Dzeko and the money: I would prefer the player.

"Still, this needs to be decided by the clubs and Edin himself."

New manager

Meanwhile, Hoeness has refused to rule out former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier becoming Wolfsburg's new head coach.

Caretaker boss Lorenz-Günther Köstner took charge of Wolfsburg following the departure of Armin Veh last month, but Hoeness is thought to be lining up an established manager to take the position on a permanent basis.

Former reserves coach Köstner will return to his original position next season, paving the way for a new manager to join in the summer.

Hoeness told Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung: "As long as we are having to confirm any names, we have to deal with the situation that we are getting linked with potential managers.

"I in person have already read names of up to 20 potential new managers of our club; we will however not be making any comment on any name.

"We are looking forward to an announcement and we want to make an announcement in the remaining weeks of the season. But we yet have to finalise anything."