Brighton boss Gus Poyet insists the League One leaders have no intention of cashing in on Norwich target Elliott Bennett in the January window.

Poyet remains confident the Seagulls' prized asset can remain on the south coast after endorsing Albion chairman Tony Bloom's public stance earlier this week that Bennett is not for sale.

But the Uruguayan is well aware of the Canaries' interest in the former Wolves frontman who impressed again in front of numerous watching Championship scouts during his side's latest league win over Peterborough.

'We're just trying to make sure Elliott stays here,' said Poyet. 'We're fighting hard and we hope he is going to be here. There have been, as you can imagine, contacts, phone calls and things going on but we're trying to maintain what the chairman said to everyone in his statement and that is still the situation.

'Norwich are in a very good position in the Championship and there is interest and we can't deny that, but it's something we can control because we don't want to sell him. We need Elliott, so we are going to fight to keep him.'

Poyet, however, did not rule out listening to offers for other members of a squad that has helped Albion move four points clear at the top.

'I think it's complicated. You can say no and after players can come and see me,' he said. 'They are all individuals. They are in different situations and, of course, different prices and different contract situations as well. It's not the same if somebody is finishing their contract compared to someone who has got three and a half years (Bennett), somebody who is playing week in and week out compared to somebody who is on the bench.'

Poyet revealed he was under no pressure to sell after his side's weekend league win.

'I always say that I hope we can get better all together as a club, as a manager and as players,' he said. 'If that does not happen then someone may leave first, but at the moment we are getting better together, and the players are all here. There were six or seven Championship clubs' scouts watching (against Peterborough) and I don't like that because I'm sure they were here looking at some of our players. The transfer window is the key. Ideally I would like to go to bed and wake up on February 1 with the same players we have now, and possibly a few more.'

Poyet's defiant message came after his chairman had revealed Norwich's approach for the highly-rated 22-year-old.

'There has been interest from Norwich, but we do not want Elliott to go anywhere, and we have made that clear to them,' Bloom told his club's official site. 'Elliott is a key part of the squad, which is why we recently gave him a new three-and-a-half-year contract. He has been superb for the club since he came here, and we are not surprised he is attracting interest from a club in a higher division.'

Telford-born Bennett moved from the Midlands in 2009 and has made 76 first team appearances for the south coast club. Bennett has also been credited with no fewer than 20 assists already this season in Albion's march to the top of the table.