Fulham transcript: What Rene Meulensteen said (or refused to say) about Ravel Morrison

The Cottagers have seen a bid for the England Under-21 international rejected, but are now under investigation

Ravel Morrison was coached by Rene Meulensteen at Manchester United (Getty Images)

Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen's pursuit of Ravel Morrison has sparked a complaint from West Ham to the Premier League.

It meant the focus was on what Meulensteen would say in a press conference on Thursday, and Fulham were a club keen to keep a lid on any further discussion of the former Manchester United prospect.

Here is an edited transcript of transfer talk in the press conference:

SARAH BROOKES - FULHAM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I am sure you are all fully expecting this, but we will not be taking or answering any questions on Ravel Morrison or anything regarding that today. It is in the hands of the Premier League and we therefore will not be taking or answering any questions on the subject.

REPORTER: Sarah, can I just be clear, have you actually received something from the Premier League in terms of the nature of the complaint?

SB: No. We have only seen what you have seen, so up until anything further can be said, we will be making no further comment.

REPORTER: Rene, do you regret saying anything?

SB: No comment means no comment.

REPORTER: Where do things stand in terms of bring new players in, and that is not a question about Ravel Morrison specifically. How do things stand?

RENE MEULENSTEEN: They stand as I am not going to make any comments on that because it is going to get me into trouble.

Now, it is what Sarah says.

It is wiser at this moment in time that we are not going to comment on anything that is happening in regards to any transfer news or speculation.

Things are in hand with the club, with (chief executive) Alistair Mackintosh and that is where I want to leave it.

REPORTER: Diame? Nani? Are they of interest or not? Can you rule them out.

RM: No comment.

..........................

(press conference moves on)

..........................

REPORTER: After your first game, you said one of the biggest differences between being a coach and a manager was the media stuff, has that been exacerbated by this week?

RM: Well, it shows that certain things can come out and be taken out of context and you have to deal with it, but more than anything else I keep concentrating on the job in hand, which is the players and preparing for games.

REPORTER: You have given us some good interviews, been very honest with us. You will not taper that now will you?

RM: If you keep going like this I have to! (laughs)

..........................

(press conference moves on)

..........................

REPORTER: Which area would be an area for you to priorities in the window, up front or in defence?

RM: Well, I do not want to highlight any particular area, then you go back into that transfer area. We discussed that, we are not going to answer any questions on that.

..........................

(press conference moves on)

..........................

REPORTER: Do you think the transfer window is generally unsettling for the whole of the Premier League? Some teams can go buy half a dozen players now to give them an advantage.

RM: It is always the financially strong teams who have the ability to strengthen, whether it is a push for the title or to get themselves out of the mess, whereas the teams who have not got that, you just have to deal with that.

But it (the transfer window) is definitely unsettling in many ways because of what clubs do, this that and the other, players get a bit unsettled with what is happening and what is not happening.