Aaron Pierre remains a Wycombe Wanderers player after the club rejected a deadline day swoop for the centre-back.
The 23-year-old is an integral part of the Wanderers side and was named in the League Two team of the year last season.
Chairman Andrew Howard says the club opted to prioritise football over the financial windfall a potential sale would bring and opted to retain Pierre.
He said: “As a club, we are doing all we can to provide Gareth with the tools he and his staff need to build the best possible squad, and Aaron is an important part of that group.
"There has been strong interest in Aaron over the summer but without a suitable replacement and lots of injuries, it is essential he stays as part of the squad.
"We acknowledge this could impact us in the last year of his contract, but it's football first this time around."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here