Van Dijk for £75m? Wagner says Schindler is worth £76m

Matt Stead

David Wagner issued another warning to rival clubs that they will be wasting their time if they enquire about any of his players during the January transfer window.

Terriers head coach Wagner has been assured by club owner Dean Hoyle that no players will be sold without his say so and insisted recently the likes of Christopher Schindler and Aaron Mooy will be staying in West Yorkshire.

“They heard the message I sent out a few weeks ago,” Wagner said before his side closes a memorable 2017 at home against Burnley on Saturday.

“They can save their money for the phone call because we will not sell any player from our squad in this window who I don’t want to sell.”

Wagner made clear his thoughts on the £75million good friend Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have agreed to pay Southampton for Holland international Virgil van Dijk and joked Schindler was worth even more.

“I have to be careful now what I say because (Van Dijk) is Jurgen’s player,” Wagner said.

“I think everybody knows what a wonderful defender he is, but to be honest these are numbers I never deal with and I never thought about.

“This is why I can’t really say much about it and judge it. This is a surprise and there is someone who pays it! They came together and now hopefully he can help Liverpool.”

When asked how much he thought Schindler is worth, Wagner replied: “Seventy-six (million).

“He was, for me, the stand out centre-back in the last Championship season and what I’ve seen in this Premier League season is outstanding as well.

“It isn’t a surprise for me if a lot of people in this business are aware of his performances so far.”

Australia international Mooy has also adapted seamlessly to life in the top flight and continues to prove a driving force in midfield.

“Everything I said about Christopher Schindler – just replace the name Christopher Schindler with Aaron Mooy,” Wagner said.

Huddersfield sit 11th in the table after collecting 23 points from 20 games and, like seventh-placed Burnley, have lost only one of their last five league matches.

Wagner, still open-minded as to whether he will strengthen his squad next month, is a big fan of Burnley boss Sean Dyche and described his side’s achievement this season as second only to that of Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders Manchester City.

“What Sean and Burnley have done is outstanding,” Wagner added. “The results speak for themselves.

“They’re very difficult to break down, they have conceded the fourth lowest total of goals in the Premier League and this is an unbelievable achievement. Big credit to them.”