Ahead of tonight's clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford (8pm), Bruce batted off the latest round of transfer window gossip.

And he insisted his big hitters wouldn't be sold this month unless 'huge' cash offers were made which the club simply couldn't turn down.

Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki and now Ryan Taylor have all been linked with moves away.

Reports claimed Tottenham had offered Jermaine Jenas in exchange for Palacios following their defeat at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.
Spanish giants Real Madrid continue to be linked with £17m-rated Valencia, with Argentina striker Javier Saviola being used as a makeweight.

The versatile Taylor, whose agent is in talks with Latics about a new contract, is believed to be a target for new Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce.

But Bruce denies receiving any offers for them, while he's also questioned reports that Heskey has signed a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool ahead of a summer Bosman move.

Egypt hitman Zaki will also stay for the rest of the season, as his loan agreement with Zamalek watertight until the summer.

The only outbound move for now should see Kevin Kilbane join Hull before the end of the week.

That transfer will be with Bruce's blessing as Kilbane has been unable to nail down a regular first-team place this season.

Bruce said: "All I can do is repeat that we've had no offers for our major players, and I hope that continues.
"Tottenham were reported to have spoken to us after Sunday's game about Palacios, but their chairman Daniel Levy wasn't even at the game.
"All along I've said the biggest challenge for me is keeping the players we have, and it is difficult.

"When I sign players, sometimes I have to tell them to use the club as a stepping stone, come and play in the Premier League and show what you're all about.

"I've sold the club to a lot of the lads that way, and I am
realistic about what might happen further down the line.
"I was an ambitious player myself and when the big clubs come calling, it is tempting to go.

"When I took this job I knew it would be like this, although I didn't think it would happen this quickly. In just over a year, we've built a decent squad.

"We've a lot of the lads under contract so we hold the reins.
"We all know how the modern game works, but any bids would have to be huge for us to sell.

"I'm hoping I can keep them all in January – the summer might be a different matter.
"Then I would have a chance of at least getting in who I want, in the summer there are more players to go round."

Of Taylor and Heskey, both out of contract in June, Bruce said: "Nobody has tried for Ryan and we're in discussions about a new deal with him.
"He knows what we think of him and one thing I won't be doing is selling him.

"With Emile, you can't sign pre-contract agreements with a club in your own country, it wouldn't be legally binding.

"You can do so with a club in another country.
"It's news to me if he has done so with Liverpool. I wouldn't have thought he would have put himself in that position."

Meanwhile, Latics expect Hugo Rodallega to arrive in Wigan on Monday to complete his £4.5m move from Mexican club Necaxa.

The Colombia striker was granted a work permit on Monday, and now just needs his visa to come through before travelling.
Bruce said: "He can apply for his visa on-line, In the past, it was a bit more complicated – you had to come into the country, then go back home, before flying in again.
"We're looking at Monday for it all to be sorted."