Nottingham Forest are reportedly keen to land Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed should their long-term pursuit of Jack Colback collapse.
The out-of-favour Saints man has been attracting plenty of interest this summer as he comes off the back of an impressive Championship loan spell with Blackburn Rovers.
The 24-year-old looks set to be shown the exit door at St. Mary's having only made six league starts under the last eight managers on the south coast.
But with Premier League clubs Burnley and Norwich City, with whom he once spent a season on loan, both said to be interested, Forest could be set to fall short this summer after the midfielder told the Lancashire Telegraph that he would favour a move to the top flight over a return to the Championship.
"I came [to Blackburn] to play lots of football and learn from a new manager and different types of football and styles," he said.
"I want to be playing in the Premier League.
"I am a central midfielder and that’s where I like to play but I want to playing at 3pm on a Saturday. Every player wants to do that whether that’s in your position or another one to help the team.
"And I am happy to do that.”
Reed, who compares his playing style to that of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, has forged a strong Championship career over the past two seasons having enjoyed plenty of game time with Norwich and Blackburn.
And while, like any professional, he has his sights set on the big time, his stock has risen considerably while playing regular football in the second tier, something that he may find himself deprived of in the Premier League.
"It’s very important in my development to come out and get the games that I have done," Reed added, speaking to the Daily Mail.
"Now I have had a taste of that I don’t want to let that go. I want to keep playing football, progressing and improving as a player.
He continued: "I like the way Scholes played the game, especially in the early stages of his career, getting into the box and scoring goals, but that's a big comparison.
"I see myself getting on the ball and playing balls, rather than receiving it with my back to goal higher up the pitch.
"I'm in the early stages of my career, I can adapt to that but in this moment in time I'm enjoying playing in front of the back four."
