Derby Rule Out Sale of Liverpool and Manchester United Midfielder Target Will Hughes

Derby County chief executive Sam Rush has ruled out the sale of Liverpool and Manchester United midfield target Will Hughes.

The 18-year-old has been linked with a move to the Merseyside club while the Premier League champions were also believed to be interested in his services as the two English giants were looking to sign the youngster in the mid-season transfer window.

Derby appointed Steve McClaren after the Championship club sacked their former manager Nigel Clough last year. The Mirror claims the club fans fear the former Manchester United assistant manager could allow the sale of Hughes as he looks to raise funds to do business in January.

Hughes came up through the ranks of Derby's youth system. Rush claims the Rams are in no mood to let their most prized asset to leave the Championship side in January.

"Will [Hughes] is best placed in Derby. There is a huge amount for him to achieve here and I don't feel commercially it is the right time for us to entertain any other discussions. You look at a variety of factors when you make a decision," Rush told the Mirror.

"Is it right for the player? Has he already maximised his contribution to the club - is there any more he can do for us? And is he at the height of his potential in income you can generate? The answer to all three is 'no'."

"There have been few bigger investors in the Championship than our owners. I expect they will put their hands in their pockets once again," Derby chief executive concluded.

Meanwhile, Iago Aspas has expressed his relief after scoring his first goal for Liverpool during their 2-0 FA Cup victory over Oldham Athletic.

The Spaniard joined the Merseyside club in the summer from Celta Vigo and was deployed out on the wider positions, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge playing up front. However, Brendan Rodgers fielder Aspas to lead Liverpool's attack, which saw the 26-year-old open his account for the Reds.

"I played the last game on the right wing and today I played as a striker, which is my position. It's wonderful for me to score my first goal here. It's difficult when you don't play all the games, but I'm very happy to have scored," Aspas told Liverpool's official website.