Albion manager Sami Hyypia has slapped a not for sale sign on Chris O’Grady.

But he has revealed the centre-forward signed by the Seagulls in July could go out on loan.

O’Grady, 28, has started only two of Albion’s nine games in the Championship since a £500,000 move from Barnsley.

That has prompted speculation over his future, with one report at the weekend claiming Hyypia is prepared to offload him for £250,000.

Hyypia said: “I don’t know where they get this information. I am sure during the season we will need everyone in the squad.

“We don’t know about injuries and what’s going to happen. It’s totally untrue that I would let him go, 100% I don’t want to let him go.”

Hyypia could, however, exploit the emergency loan system, to give O’Grady and other fringe members of the squad game time.

The Finn said: “That gives you maybe an opportunity with players who are not getting many minutes to let them go somewhere to get minutes so that they will be more ready to play for us when the time comes that we need them.

“We need to try to take advantage of this situation with maybe the likes of Chris O’Grady. Maybe that could be one option for him to get more minutes on the pitch if he would go somewhere on loan but that’s also up to him.

“I wouldn’t let him go at the moment while Sam (Baldock) is a bit injured.”