Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has quashed any transfer interest in Nottingham Forest promotion hero Max Lowe.
The left-back spent last season on loan at the City Ground from United but has returned to Bramall Lane in order to participate in the Blades' pre-season plans.
Lowe, who had parts of his season curtailed due to two groin injuries, appeared 21 times for Forest in the Championship, contributing a goal and four assists.
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His performances on the left-side of defence were also deemed worthy enough for Forest to reportedly lodge a bid of around £2m for the 25-year-old.
That transfer interest could return again this summer as the Reds look to fill gaps in their squad ahead of the Premier League season, but Blades boss Heckingbottom said he will not be drawn into any premature deals - including for Lowe, whose Sheffield United contract runs until 2024.
"He’s in next week. That’s it,” Heckingbottom told the Sheffield Star. "He did well at Forest, but there’s been no offers. There’s interest, because he did great for them. But he’s our player.
"He did well in this league and it’s more important to get players in before we let them out."
Asked if United will look to improve Lowe’s contract, which has at least two years left to run, Heckingbottom said: "There’s no need. There’s no rush.
"He’s still got a few years left. He’s been at a team that’s been promoted, which is fantastic for him but also for us because he’s our player.
"The dialogue was always about him getting back in our team and being our player."
Lowe has previously made clear his desire to stay at the City Ground. In March, he said: “I appreciate the way I’m getting treated as a player and as a person. I can’t look beyond this season, but I’m happy playing football at Forest at the moment.
“The gaffer knows that and everyone at the club knows how much I want to stay. But that’s not in my hands, so I’m just going to keep playing as well as I can each week and do my part to help the team.”
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