Williams has been linked with a $5m switch to Bolton after Trotters boss Owen Coyle revealed he'd been in touch with Boro this week about a potential move for the Perth-born defender/midfielder.

The versatile Socceroo is contracted with Boro until mid-2013 but the Championship club need to slash their £20m wage bill.

But Mowbray told the club's website that 22-year-old Williams was a required player.

“There's no urgency to sell him, so we can put that one to bed,” Mowbray said.

“We don't have to sell any of our young, talented footballers whose salaries aren't hurting this football club financially.”

Mowbray continued: “It's good that people are eyeing our players. We should never be afraid of people enquiring about our footballers - it shows we have got some talent. The secret is to have them on decent contracts, to keep them happy and to encourage them.

"Hopefully the scenario will be we keep the ones we think it's right to keep, the ones we want to build a team round. Some players' salary levels dictate that we have to listen to offers and others don't.

"Rhys comes into that (latter) category and he's shown versatility and great quality in every position we've asked him to play since he came back from injury. I'm pretty sure that next season he'll be here."

Williams had exclusively told au.fourfourtwo.com earlier this weekend it'd be a dream for him to play in the Premier League but left it up to the club to decide his immediate future.

“I've never played in the Premiership and it's always been my dream,” Williams said.

“If the right move comes along and it's right for the club, myself and my career then it'd be the way forward.

“My future lies in the hands of Middlesbrough Football Club. Whether they want to keep me or sell me, it's their choice and time will tell.”

Williams missed most of this Championship campaign due to a long-term pelvis injury but since his return to the Boro side in March the team's results improved.

Mowbray was full of praise for the three-time Socceroo who played another full game in the centre of defence in Saturday's 3-0 win over Doncaster which saw Boro finish the season in 12th.

"Rhys is like a Rolls Royce, he can do anything. For a boy who's had the injuries he has he has amazing agility and athleticism,” Mowbray said.

"He's a talented boy. What Rhys Williams needs to do is play 40 football matches for us next season. He needs to get a season under his belt and hopefully we'll see that next year."