Nottingham Forest fans have urged their club to be 'ruthless' and bring back Albert Adomah this week in hope of denting Cardiff City's play-off hopes.
The winger has largely been deemed a success since arriving in the Welsh capital on deadline day back in January, filling the sizeable void left by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's absence through injury.
His loan deal, like all others, took him up until June 30, but the elongated season owing to coronavirus has thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to players' contracts.
Bournemouth last week announced that Brad Smith would stay with the Bluebirds until the end of the current campaign, while Neil Harris said Dion Sanderson and Wolves were also happy for the player to stay.
But when it came to Adomah and top-six rivals Forest, the Bluebirds manager said all parties had reached an impasse over agreeing an extension to the player's current terms.
"Forest is not straightforward. We are in dialogue with Forest at the moment," Harris said after the triumph up at Deepdale.
"The bottom line with Albert is I want him to stay. I've picked him for every game he has been at the club for.
"Albert wants to stay and finish the season here, so we have to keep working with Forest to try and make it happen."
When asked whether he thought Forest were playing hardball because they are play-off rivals, Harris said: "Possibly. That will be down for Forest to answer at the moment.
"I think the EFL have to take a long, hard look at themselves as well.
"It might end up with clubs in dispute when the EFL should have taken leadership and ownership of this and made loans compulsory to be finished.
"So, my gripe at the moment is with the EFL in particular."
News that the two clubs are seemingly at loggerheads had Forest fans taking to social media en masse, begging their club to do everything they can to scupper their rivals' chances of earning a top-six spot.
There is no doubting that Adomah has made a positive impact and is a safe pair of hands out on that right wing, but he is also a valued and funny member of the Bluebirds squad.
Lovingly nicknamed 'Uncs', presumably originating from the Only Fools and Horses Character 'Uncle Albert', the Ghana international seems to have breathed fresh air into this City squad and it is no surprise that Harris wants him to stay.
It is for that exact reason, therefore, that Forest fans want him back.
One Forest supporter wrote: "Would I be helping out a play-off rival at the business end of the season? Absolutely not.
"Hope Nottingham Forest are ruthless and let him come back. Didn’t do much for m,e Adomah, after a decent start, but he can offer more than some getting in the squad atm (sic)."
Another said: "I'd bring Adomah back. Experienced campaigner at the business end of the season. Played himself back into form at Cardiff. If he's ever going to do it at Nottingham Forest, it will be over the next remaining games."
A third added: "And we owe Cardiff City something because............."
Forest fan Nick, meanwhile, chipped in to say: "Good news for Nottingham Forest. More to do with his replacement has been rubbish for us! He would be useful in our squad."
Another explained: "We want him back, it was a weird one to let him go and (Adama) Diakhaby has been poor. With the amount of fixtures there are to play an extra squad player can only be a good thing."
Ben Hedley also said: "Get him back! So much better than Diakhaby."
The coming days will be crucial with regards to thrashing out an extension between the two sets of clubs, with Adomah's deal running out at the close of play on Tuesday, the day of the match with Charlton.
City's squad has been bolstered by the return of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who has been very impressive in his two outings back against Leeds United and Preston, having scored against the latter in the important 3-1 win on Saturday.
Junior Hoilett, Gavin Whyte and Josh Murphy, when he returns to full fitness, are all options in the wide areas for Harris, but whether we can add Adomah to that list moving forward remains to be seen.
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