West Bromwich Albion Chairman Rubbishes Saido Berahino's Transfer Speculation

West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace has responded to speculation regarding striker Saido Berahino's move away from the club and calmed supporters' fears by insisting that the striker is not for sale.

The Baggies forward was recently linked with a move away from the club, with Premier League big guns Liverpool and Tottenham vying for his services.

Earlier in the week, the England U21 striker had admitted that he is willing to leave his current employers to fulfill his dream of playing in the World Cup and in the Champions League.

However, the chairman insists that the striker will remain with the club this season and is hoping to hold on to him beyond next summer as well. Berahino is currently contracted to the West Midlands club till the summer of 2017 and Peace has confirmed that the club have opened talks with the striker on extending his deal.

"I wish to assure our supporters that Saido Berahino will not be going anywhere in January or, I hope, next summer," Peace said, as quoted on talkSPORT.

"It is not in our minds at all to trade a footballer the club has worked so diligently to develop."

"He is contracted to play for West Bromwich Albion until at least the summer of 2017 and we are happy to sit down with him and discuss extending that commitment on terms which recognise his continuing improvement as a footballer and his growing importance to our own plans," the Premier League club's chairman explained.

Berahino's impressive performances this season for the Baggies has seen him receive a call up to the senior England squad and Peace believes that this reflects greatly on the club and the staff, who have played a key role in the strikers progress.

However, he understands that all this fame will bring bigger clubs knocking on their doors.

"We are delighted that this development has now taken him all the way to the senior England squad. This reflects proudly on our club and the efforts of all the staff who have played such a key role in Saido's progress since he arrived here as an 11-year-old."

"This seems to have also generated unwarranted and excitable speculation about his future - which I wish to stress remains very firmly aligned to this football club," Peace concluded.