Port Vale manager John Askey has confirmed the club are interested in signing former Nottingham Forest youngster Adam Crookes on a permanent deal.
Crookes was recently released by Forest, which was confirmed when the club published their retained list for next season.
The 21-year-old was set for contract talks with Forest last month, but has been released without making a single appearances for the Reds first team.
Crookes progressed through the youth ranks at the Nigel Doughty Academy on Trentside, and spent the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Port Vale.
During the season, Crookes made 19 appearances for the Valiants and the club have long been keen for the defender to remain at Vale Park next season.
"He is the right age as well,” Askey told Stoke-on-Trent Live.
He added: “I think also from the football club's point of view you are looking at players who can move on and perhaps make the club money if they progress. The main thing is that he does well for us.
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"But with him being the age that he is, if he does do well, I am sure there are clubs that would come looking for him because he has got a lot of attributes.
"Maybe left back is not his natural position but I think at the age that he is, with all his attributes he can become a really good left back."
