Price must be right for Odemwingie

Albion boss Roy Hodgson has insisted it would take a mega-bucks offer to prise striking sensation Peter Odemwingie out of the Hawthorns this summer.

Hodgson is determined to keep the Baggies' 13-goal leading scorer despite the prospect of summer bids following the Nigeria international's stunning debut Premier League season.

Italian club Juventus have been linked with a possible Odemwingie bid, but Hodgson said: "He's a good player and we would like to keep him here. Whether we receive any offers or not, who can say?

"But I'm not sure there's an awful lot of money around. Certainly we wouldn't be looking to get rid of him, so it would have to be the type of offer you can't refuse and we know what top front players cost in the market.

"I'm not suggesting £50million but they certainly cost top money, so it would be a question of what teams are out there with that sort of money to spend and whether Peter Odemwingie is the type of player they are looking for, so there are a lots of ifs and buts.

"I don't take a lot of notice of the Juventus thing. Any agent in the world can always drum up an Italian club.

"If we're going to lose the best ones we've got and start again then I would think the task is going to be more than uphill.

"No-one wants to be in that situation."

Hodgson also backed Odemwingie to ignore any summer speculation surrounding his future.

The Baggies boss said: "He's not stupid. He seems perfectly happy here and he's a joy to work and I think he has enjoyed his time here.

"I don't think he's looking to take the first opportunity to get out of the club.

"I don't talk him about those things, so it's not something I should talk too much about.

"I have no idea what players think when they read things in the papers."