On the Wright-Phillips rumors: Where there's smoke, there might not be fire

Now that the transfer window is shut, and the CONCACAF Champions League coming up, it's time for New York Red Bulls' Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh to get down to business in the player market.

At least that's what Roxburgh told the Red Bulls' media corps this afternoon, that his squad was shopping Bobby Convey and Andre Akpan while fielding calls on golden boot leader Bradley Wright-Phillips.

That last bit of news should make Red Bulls fans a bit nervous, as BWP is banging in goals at Chris Wondolowski- or Roy Lassiter-esque pace.

If it seems like there's smoke, don't make finish the old adage, about there being a fire at its source. Because there just might not be. Take this from Sporting Kansas City chief Peter Vermes.

Vermes told MLSsoccer.com he fields offers on his players every day and that aren't "worth discussing."

"I'm not wasting time with these clubs that think that they can come and bargain-basement shop here and get guys for free," Vermes said on Thursday, during the club's weekly news conference ahead of Sunday's away date with Vancouver (8 pm ET, MLS Live in US, TSN/RDS2 in Canada). "Because our guys are just as valuable as so many players around the world, and sometimes even more valuable. And we're not just going to give guys away for little money."

Vermes, who serves as both the technical director ("sporting director" in Red Bulls parlance) and head coach, made this statement in regard to the Dom Dwyer-to-Brentford rumors, which share some parallel with the Wright-Phillips situation, as both are English and both are scoring at a high rate.

Vermes goes on to say that he places a certain value on his players, and, essentially, if teams aren't willing to meet that valuation, he's not willing to discuss the offer.

Of course, the Red Bulls might have a different philosophy on considering offers, but if Championship sides think they can pilfer Wright-Phillips, who in all likelihood will be the team's single season goal scoring record holder when 2014 is all said and done, away on the cheap, I have a hard time believing Roxburgh would let that happen.

Plus, like Vermes let on, just because there are offers and there's interest, doesn't mean those offers come anywhere close to what the Red Bulls might expect or the interest will manifest itself in any meaningful way.

Crazier things have happened, though, but it's hard to imagine the team's soccer guys thinking moving Wright-Phillips a good idea.