Nottingham Forest have rejected an approach from Wigan for Tendayi Darikwa - and are in no rush to sell the defender.
The Reds’ Championship rivals are understood to have submitted a ‘low’ offer for the Zimbabwe international.
It remains to be seen if last season’s relegation strugglers return with a fresh bid, but Forest are not particularly keen to part company with the right back and have not encouraged the Latics to do so.
And Forest’s stance is only likely to be altered if a club comes up with a serious, big offer for the former Burnley man.
Darikwa has only joined up with the rest of the Reds squad over the past week or so, after being on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations this summer.
The defender will face competition for his place from the ever versatile Matty Cash - who has featured at right back and right wing back in pre-season - and highly rated youngster Jayden Richardson, who is also part of the travelling party in Greece.
The Reds do also have some interest in Mehdi Zeffane, who worked with boss Sabri Lamouchi at Rennes - and who is out of contract this summer.
There is serious competition for the Algerian, however, with newly promoted Norwich, Fiorentina and Espanyol understood to be among his suitors - while Rennes have not given up hope that he will sign a new deal.
And regardless of whether Forest do land another right back, Lamouchi does view Darikwa as being a player who still has a role to play in his squad.
The 27-year-old, who grew up in West Bridgford, produced a lively performance in the 3-0 win over Atromitos on Saturday and is expected to be involved again when they take on sister club Olympiacos tomorrow night.
After the game against Atromitos, Darikwa spoke of his desire to help the Reds break the cycle of underachievement that has blighted the club for two decades.
“Nottingham Forest are a massive club. We know that. As a club we have been underachieving for too long,” he said.
“The owners took it upon themselves to change the manager and that will hopefully work. But as players we have to do our best. It is down to us to make sure that we do enough ourselves this season.”
Darikwa has made 59 starts and four sub appearances for the Reds, since joining from Burnley almost two years ago. He has scored one goal, in a 5-1 defeat at Chelsea, in the EFL Cup in 2017.
