Nottingham Forest ace Joe Worrall says he is “flattered” by speculation linking him with Premier League sides.
But while he admits there are certain temptations which would come with an offer from one of the top-flight big guns, he remains fully committed to the club he supported as a boy and where he has come up through the ranks.
Arsenal, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Sheffield United and Norwich City are all said to be keen on the young defender.
Reds boss Sabri Lamouchi has said there is “no way” he would allow Worrall to leave, and the centre-back says he is simply focused on Saturday’s trip to Reading as Forest look to maintain a promotion push.
“Of course you’re aware of the talk. I’ve got a mobile phone, I see Twitter and Instagram and stuff,” said Worrall, whose City Ground contract runs out in 2022.
“It’s brilliant - it’s something you want as a player. You’d rather people be talking about you than not.
“But at the end of the day, it’s not all about Joe Worrall, it’s about the team and Reading at the weekend.
“I’m here and contracted for another couple of years.
but I’m just looking forward to the weekend and trying to beat Reading.”
Worrall has started each of the Reds’ 25 Championship games this term and been a key figure in their climb to fourth in the table.
He accepts that should reported interest from Premier League suitors be taken a step further, the knowledge that kind of game time might be hard to come by elsewhere would come into consideration.
“Of course I want to see Forest play in the Premier League. I want to be part of the team that does it,” said the 23-year-old.
“But you’ve got to think about your career and stuff.
“There’s a lot of things which come into play with moving location.
“But at the end of the day it’s about Reading at the weekend. I literally look no further than that.
“Of course you want to play in the Premier League.
“If the big hitters come in for you, it’s hard to say ‘no’. But you’ve got to be realistic as well.
“You’ve got to think, ‘am I going to play?’.
“There’s a lot of factors, without talking money and location and other things.
“I’m someone who’s very level-headed and I just think about winning, so that’s all I want to do with Forest at the moment.”
And as Lamouchi’s side look to make it four league wins on the spin when they take on the Royals, Worrall says there is no chance he will be distracted by any speculation this month.
“I don’t really think about it, in all honesty,” he said.
“It’s flattering. It’s nice to see that clubs are interested.
“But you’ve just got to look towards the weekend.
“It’s important that we go to Reading and try to beat them.
“But as far as speculation goes, I wake up every day and go to training and think about how I can get the shirt for the weekend.”
