Bad news for Chelsea and Liverpool as Bayer Leverkusen insist Premier League targets Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie will not be sold in January

Defenders Tah, 27, and Hincapie, 21, are reportedly attracting Premier League interest but Leverkusen's managing director Simon Rolfes has rejected the notion that any of their top players will leave the club next month. A report from Kicker states Tah has a €18 million (£16m/$20m) release clause but that is only valid in the summer. Incidentally, Hincapie, who can play at centre-back and left-back, is regarded as one of the most promising defenders in football.

The Leverkusen director told Kicker: "Everyone [at Leverkusen] stays. We won't give up any players in the winter."

Leverkusen are under no pressure whatsoever to sell their prized assets in January when they are top of the Bundesliga and into the last-16 of the Europa League after topping their group. Xabi Alonso's side may allow some players to leave for big fees in the summer but for now it doesn't make sense for them to part ways with their top stars.

Like all Bundesliga sides, Leverkusen are currently enjoying their winter break before returning to action on January 13, where they travel to Augsburg. It remains to be seen what happens to their squad once the January transfer window opens in just over a week's time.