Defender Serge Aurier has revealed he has an automatic one-year extension on his Nottingham Forest contract which will be triggered if survival is secured.
The 30-year-old put pen to paper at the City Ground last September, joining as a free agent after leaving Villarreal. Since then, he has become a key figure for the Reds, being a regular in the starting XI until he picked up a calf injury during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Talks have been held over extending Aurier’s stay Trentside. But the right-back says there is no rush to agree longer terms as his 12 month deal will automatically be extended if Forest stay up - something he is convinced Steve Cooper’s side will do.
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“I did an interview a few days ago and was asked about this. I said we have time,” Aurier said of possibly signing a new contract.
“We don’t know what is going to happen. Maybe next season we are not in the Premier League.
“We need to see. If we stay in the Premier League, why not? But right now, it is too difficult to decide something.
“My first goal is to help the team stay in the Premier League. That is my number one objective. After that, we will see. We have a lot of time.
“The first goal is to help the team stay in the Premier League. We will see.”
Asked if that means talks will likely resume once the Reds know which division they will be in next term, Aurier added: “If we stay up, I have one more year. I signed because I believe we can stay up.”
Ahead of this weekend’s clash with Everton, the Reds are 13th in the Premier League table, four points above the drop zone. They have 14 games remaining.
Last week, Cooper underlined the right-back’s importance to his squad. He made clear Aurier has been a big presence in the dressing room, as well as during games.
“We’re very happy with Serge. We enjoy working with him. He’s had a real positive influence, both on and off the pitch,” said the Welshman.
“He’s really brought what you’d hope a player of his experience would bring, in terms of where he’s been and what he’s done. He’s ended up being a big part of our culture, Serge.
“With regards contract situations, it’s not something I get too much involved in, particularly when we’re preparing for games. Obviously, I’m aware of stuff, but we’re all just focused on trying to win an away game this week.
“We’re very happy with him. He seems happy as well - I hope. I speak to players a lot, and it’s all been positive conversations, in terms of his day to day stuff.
“We’re really happy with Serge; really happy. But he, like us, is just focused on trying to make this season a successful one.”
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