Boss Steve Cooper says he has been “very clear” about Nottingham Forest ace Brennan Johnson’s situation heading into the January transfer window.
The 20-year-old has been in fine form for the Reds this season, building on last term’s impressive loan spell at Lincoln City which made a few clubs sit up and take note.
There was plenty of interest around Johnson in the summer, and Premier League sides have continued to keep tabs on him as he has racked up four goals and five assists in the Championship.
He has around 18 months left to run on his current contract, but while talks over a new one reached something of a stalemate, Cooper sent out a strong message to any would-be suitors.
Asked if he is expecting any phone calls about the youngster next month, he said: "No. I'm very clear about that situation. And the phone is off anyway!”
Johnson caught the eye in Forest’s 4-1 thumping of Swansea City on Saturday, setting up Lewis Grabban for the visitors’ second before getting on the scoresheet himself when Ben Hamer spilled Jordi Osei-Tutu’s shot.
He has been a regular in the starting XI since returning to the City Ground, playing a key role as the Reds have climbed to within four points of the play-off spots.
And the attacker has previously expressed his desire to remain on the banks of the Trent.
Back in October, he said: “I’ve been here since the age of eight.
“Playing for Forest has always been my dream, so it’s really nice to play for them.
“It would be nice to stay here. But at the minute, I’m just focusing on the next game, because it has been a tough start to the season - everyone knows that.
“If we keep winning games, I think the rest will sort itself out.
“At times it is nice to hear (about other interest), but I was just focused on coming back to Forest in the summer.
“I didn’t have that long off because of the play-offs, so I didn’t really have much time to think about what was happening because I was back at Forest before I knew it.
“I think that kind of helped, coming back in quite quickly, just getting back into the swing of things in pre-season with Forest.”
Brentford tried to sign Johnson in the summer, while Burnley, Leeds United, Leicester City and Barnsley were also linked. Since then, Everton, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Brighton and Hove Albion are said to have been added to his list of admirers.
But it is Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites who have been most strongly linked with the £10m-rated attacker ahead of January.
We’ve teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to nominate their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Nominate the match that mattered to you here
