Joe Worrall is not going anywhere.
That is the message Nottingham Forest have sounded out to any suitors in the summer transfer window.
And it is not all that surprising to see such a message being delivered.
The Nottingham Post report that: “Nottingham Forest have no plans to sell Joe Worrall – and have already turned down more than one bid for the defender.”
A home-grown talent within the City Ground ranks was said to be attracting interest from Championship rivals.
The Post added: “Hull and Wigan are both understood to have shown an interest in the 22-year-old in recent weeks.
“It is unclear whether either club were involved – but Nottinghamshire Live understands that there have been ‘offers’ made for the player already in recent weeks.
“All of those have been rejected with Worrall understood to have a key part to play in Sabri Lamouchi’s plans.
“And the club are keen to send out the message that the player is not for sale.”
Patience
(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Good to hear.
Forest have no need to consider parting with Worrall – who remains under contract until 2022.
Is he the finished product? No, far from it.
Does he still boast plenty of potential? Yes, he does.
And it is that which the Reds should be buying into, not the opportunity to make a quick buck.
Patience will be the order of the day with a defender who spent last season out on loan at Rangers.
He still has much to learn.
A desire to impress for a home-town club can sometimes cloud the judgement of an energetic centre-half.
Mistakes have been made and will probably be made again in the future, but giving up at this stage would make little sense.
Regardless of what your take on Worrall may be.
Lamouchi has used a Nottingham native prominently during pre-season, which suggests that he has a leading role to play.
Learning
He is also now back in surroundings where a learning curve should be enhanced.
A spell under an Old Firm spotlight in Glasgow will have done him no harm.
Worrall should now be looking to take as many lessons as possible from the likes of Michael Dawson and Alexander Milosevic.
They are competition for places, but are also experienced internationals that can help to polish a rough diamond.
For Dawson, who is now 35 years of age, he has the potential to take his career full circle.
When he emerged from Forest’s academy system, he stepped into the senior fold alongside Des Walker.
He couldn’t have wished for a better mentor.
Dawson must now fill a similar role for Worrall.
If he does, and everything goes to plan, then the decision to snub offers at this stage should deliver rich rewards further down the line.