Midfielder Ryan Yates says Nottingham Forest need to hang on to their “match-winners” as they prepare for a fresh assault on the Championship.
Promotion is the aim for the Reds next season, having fallen short of a top six finish this time around, and Yates is keen for the club to fend off any interest in their star men.
Forest’s Player of the Season Joe Lolley, in particular, is said to have caught the eye of Aston Villa, with Dean Smith’s side reportedly plotting a £10m bid following their play-offs victory.
But if the winger’s ears might have pricked up at being linked with the team he supported as a boy, Yates is keen to remind Lolley that the City Ground is the place to be.
“We need to keep our best players, and especially our match-winners,” the 21-year-old told the Post.
“Joe was unbelievable for us last season.
“But you can look at it as like a good thing for the club that these players are being linked with moves away, because that means they are doing so well.
“I don’t know why anyone would want to leave this club, especially with what the owner’s doing, the stadium and everything like that. It’s a good place to be.”
Asked if he had told his teammate that, Yates grinned: “Of course! He probably knows it anyway. I just want the good players to stay and help us push for promotion next season.”
Boss Martin O’Neill has made it clear he is targeting a place in the Premier League when the action gets underway again in August.
Meanwhile, owner Evangelos Marinakis has underlined his commitment to the club with plans to redevelop the stadium.
It means there is much to be excited about, according to Yates.
“You look at the lads who have come through the academy – there’s so many of them,” he said.
“I think we finished the season with four or five players starting, who had all come through the academy, which is such a testament.
“With the experienced players we’ve got, the developments with the stadium, the fans – the fact we’ve got almost 20,000 season card holders already signed up for next year; it’s just the place to be.
“There’s a bit of a buzz around the club. We need to keep that going and keep the results really good for the start of the season.”
And whether it is about Lolley or any other member of the squad, Yates insists he takes little notice of speculation about
“No, I don’t, me personally, I just focus on myself, making sure I’m coming back in the best shape I can,” he said.
“Ultimately, that’s going to help the team coming back for pre-season.”
