Former U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has urged Bobby Wood to stay at Hamburg despite links with Premier League clubs.
After playing the German second tier with 1860 Munich, Erzgebirge Aue and Union Berlin, Wood is enjoying life in the Bundesliga after making the move to Hamburg last summer.
There has been speculation the 24-year-old U.S. international could leave, though, with several outlets reporting that Wood has a release clause ranging between €10 million and €12m in his current contract.
"Bobby still is in a period of development," Klinsmann, who handed the striker his international debut in 2013, told Hamburger Morgenpost.
"It's great to see how Bobby is coping with his first steps in the Bundesliga. He's doing a great job."
Wood scored the winner against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend -- only his fifth strike of the season in the league -- but Klinsmann said: "He wins confidence with his goals.
"The key word is consistency. Bobby now needs to set a goal rate. A goal in every second match, that's my wish for him."
Klinsmann urged Wood to not be distracted by the rumours and continue his development at Hamburg.
"I would advise him not to make a switch right now," the former Germany international said. "HSV [Hamburg] are already a big club with a wonderful stadium and great fans. The folks love their HSV, and now they also love Bobby.
"For him, Hamburg is not only a stopover. Even though he's on a roll now, the step into the Bundesliga, and also into a big city like Hamburg, is a major one."
He added: "He now needs to show consistency for a few years, and then you can. HSV does him good right now. He needs that feel-good atmosphere."
Hamburg are currently in the relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga table.