...BUT DIFFICULT START COULD FORCE TOWN INTO TRANSFER MARKET IN JANUARY

DAVID Wagner will not entertain the idea of switching Huddersfield Town for Hoffenheim while still under contract at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The boss has been consistently linked with a move to the Bundesliga by the German press after three sensational years with the Terriers, with more questions directed at the 46-year-old over the current international break.

But Wagner set the record straight when asked about potentially replacing Hoffenheim manager, Julian Nagelsmann, at the end of the season, when the 31-year-old will leave the Wirsol Rhein-NeckarArena for RB Leipzig.

He told Sport1: “I have a contract in Huddersfield until 2021 that I totally respect.

“And therefore, any comment on Hoffenheim is unnecessary from my side.

“The story we’re involved in at Huddersfield is simply too important to me.”

Wagner went on to speak about his position at Town, explaining to the German outlet why he feels safe in his role despite the sluggish start to their second season in the top flight.

He said: “I feel 100 per cent the necessary backing. For outsiders who do not see our games and only look at the table, it looks more difficult than it feels for me.

“I’ve been able to do my job for many years without regard to table positions.

“In the phase in which we rose and were always at the top of the table, I have always said that we have to free ourselves from any table positions.”

Meanwhile, Town’s struggling start to the new season could force them into the transfer market in January.

Wagner added nine new first-team players to his ranks in the summer after dramatically clinching Premier League survival at Stamford Bridge in May.

The Terriers bolstered their wide options over the off-season in preparation for a second campaign in the top flight – as well as breaking their transfer record to sign former loan star Terence Kongolo.

Jonas Lossl and Florent Hadergjonaj officially became permanent Terriers in July too, while Ben Hamer and Ramadan Sobhi switched Leicester City and Stoke City respectively for the John Smith’s Stadium.

Three more – Juninho Bacuna, Erik Durm and Adama Diakhaby – were brought in permanently from abroad by the Terriers, who also welcomed Montpellier winger Isaac Mbenza in on loan.

It has been a disappointing start for Town, however, who have scored just four goals in eight top-flight tests so far this season. And that record could force Wagner, Dean Hoyle and Olaf Rebbe to dip back into the transfer market in January in order to add creativity and more clinical finishers to the Town ranks when the window opens at midnight on Tuesday, January 1.

Deadline day is on Thursday, January 31, 11pm.