Head coach Sabri Lamouchi has made it clear he does not want in-demand defender Joe Worrall to follow Matty Cash in leaving Nottingham Forest.
Cash’s move to Aston Villa was confirmed this morning, with the two clubs agreeing a £14m deal which could rise to £16m due to potential add-ons.
The right-back had a number of clubs chasing his signature, while Worrall, too, has been the subject of top-flight interest for some time.
Midfielder Tiago Silva has also been linked with a move away, to fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned club Olympiacos.
For your latest Forest news sign up to our newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page - or click here
Lamouchi gave little away about the Portuguese’s chances of leaving, but took a firm stance on Worrall.
Asked if he expected further departures, after Cash’s exit, he told NottinghamshireLive: “I don’t know.
“Nobody has come directly to me and asked to move.
“With Joe Worrall, I have been extremely clear - it is a no; no way for me (to let him go).
“Afterwards, if the club decide differently, that is a different option.
“But I prefer to be clear with the players.
“When other players ask the club to move, they don’t need to come to me - because I will not talk with them and try to convince them to stay.
“Only the players who want to stay and who want to play for Forest will stay.
“We are in a fantastic place, with a fantastic atmosphere and the project is very exciting.
“Of course the end of last season was terrible. Terrible. But it is behind us and we need to look forward.
“My responsibility is not to cry again and to say, ‘don’t worry, the next week, the next month, the next season will be much better’. No.
“If you want to leave, then, ‘thank you, all the best and good luck’.
“We just want the players who are 100 percent focused on the project.”
Cash departs on the back of a fine campaign which saw him crowned the club’s Player of the Year.
Forest will not look to bring in another right-back in his absence, with Tendayi Darikwa and Carl Jenkinson now fighting for a starting spot.
“For me, it is difficult. I am proud, because he played in a different position in my first year,” Lamouchi said of Cash. “When I came, he was a normal winger and now he leaves as the best right-back in the division.
“The Forest academy are doing a great job, with players like Worrall, Yatesy, Brennan Johnson and Alex Mighten (having come through) - and Matty Cash.
“I am proud, but at the same time everybody is happy - first, the player, but also both clubs because it is a good deal for a fantastic player.
“Me, I am a little bit less happy because I am losing the best right-back in the division.
“We have two right-backs still.
“Now, with this deal done, we need to think about things, but we have enough in this position.”
.jpg?w=600)
