The youngster's sparkling performances since joining the Baggies have reportedly attracted interest from big Premier League clubs.

Mowbray insists the 21-year-old, who was signed from Heerenveen in the summer, is very much in his plans, but the boss does acknowledge 'there is always a balance' for the club.

He told the Express & Star: "We have one or two players that other clubs do covet and occasionally ask me about, but selling is not the plan.

"The plan is to try to build a team, not to bring them in and sell them off quickly.

"That said there is always a balance for us and I have said that to the players."

Mowbray believes the speculation will not unsettle his young player and he would like to keep him for the foreseeable future.

"As long as it doesn't adversely affect him it's not a problem," he said.

"Hopefully he hasn't seen it and is not reading it because he is a foreign player, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't rush out every morning to buy a red label newspaper.

"I'm pretty sure he won't see them unless they are on the dinner table with the other players.

"He has shown no signs at all of having an attitude that's going to be a problem even if the speculation continues.

"I hope he realises he is a young player and we have given him an opportunity to come and play in the Premier League.

"Hopefully he will continue to get on with his job and enjoy the environment that we are creating so his talent ultimately will take his career wherever it's meant to be, which I always say to players.

"We're not going to put him under lock and key but we have brought him here and we have no thoughts of being anywhere except here for a few years, helping our club progress.

"What is the point of bringing a player in and then selling him in a year unless he is one that can't get a game?

"Why would you buy a player and sell him for a bit of profit when you're trying to build a team?"