Paul Simpson has insisted Shrewsbury Town do not have to sell prize asset Grant Holt this summer – as the forward prepares to go under the knife.

Holt is sure to be the subject of summer speculation having scored 28 times in Town’s promotion near miss.

But as Simpson prepares to fend off any interest, he has revealed no offers have been received for the ace marksman.

“The only thing I can say is nobody has been in for Grant Holt,” said Simpson.

“There was loads of speculation (earlier in the season). He’s contracted for the next two years and I want him to stay here.

“He’s never told me he wants to go. What we have got to do is put a squad of players together that makes him want to stay here.

“I honestly can’t answer the question of whether he is going to go or stay.

“I want him to stay. The chairman wants him to stay. We don’t have to sell him.”

Holt will tomorrow undergo an ankle operation which is expected to rule him out of the start of pre-season training.

He is one of three Town players in a similar position, with Chris Humphrey – currently mulling over a two-year contract extension – undergoing a double hernia operation yesterday and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff also having ankle surgery this week.

“There is every chance they will not start pre-season,” revealed Simpson.

“They are likely to be fit to the middle or the end of July so we need to make sure we have enough players in to deal with everything we could have to deal with.”

Simpson, meanwhile, has confirmed he has made initial enquiries over adding to his squad.

“I haven’t negotiated anything,” he added. “I have made enquiries to express an interest in two or three players but what I would say is I’m not close to signing them because I haven’t made any offers.

“I made a point of expressing an interest in them but I told them that the most important thing for me was getting Saturday’s game dealt with properly so I will follow them up now.

“I know we need to improve our squad – simple as that – but I’m not going to put a number on it.

“I think we need to strengthen the goalkeeping department, we need strikers and – the thing that we have missed – is some real energy and legs in midfield.”

Amongst the players already linked with Shrewsbury are out-of-contract Brighton forward Jake Robinson and Carlisle defender David Livesey.

By JAMES GARRISON