Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa's deadly duo of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are "irreplaceable" - and he will reject any attempts to prise them away.
The Villa boss stresses his priority is to try to bring in new blood to sustain a challenge on three fronts - for a Champions League spot, this year's UEFA Cup and FA Cup.
But O'Neill, who has been staggered by Manchester City's £100million plus bid for Brazilian star Kaka, recognises how important the two Englishmen are to his current side. He said: "Those boys like Ashley and 'Gabby' are irreplaceable. They are priceless to us, absolutely priceless to us."
Agbonlahor and Young have scored 17 goals between them this season to help overcome the loss of John Carew through injury, although the Norwegian international is in training again after a back problem.
Young was recently linked with a £27million move to Real Madrid, and O'Neill has often claimed the winger is worth many times over the initial £8million Villa paid Watford for his services two years ago.
O'Neill added: "I wouldn't contemplate it [selling either player].
"We are going great - and if you are talking about some of the younger lads who have been making the head-lines, I think here is absolutely perfect for them.
"They are playing; they are in the upper echelons of the Premier League; they are getting decent coverage; they are playing great - so I think it is spot on for them here.
"They might go somewhere else where there is rotation and they are sitting in the stand."
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