Head coach Steve Cooper remains coy on the future of Jesse Lingard amid transfer speculation about the Nottingham Forest attacker.
The 30-year-old is among a number of players who will be out of contract at the end of the season. Lingard penned a one-year deal when he joined the Reds last summer as a free agent.
Reports this week speculated teams abroad are monitoring his situation. But Cooper has long said any thoughts about what happens in a few months’ time are on the backburner while Forest fight for Premier League survival.
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“I haven’t spoken to anybody really about futures,” he said, ahead of Friday’s clash with Newcastle United. “We are just focused on the present team situation. I don’t think now is the time to be thinking about anything else apart from what it takes to train well today or what it takes to play well in the next game and win the next game.
“Filippo (Giraldi) is here as sporting director. He will take the lead on those sorts of things, with good communication with myself, ownership and the board.
“But for me, the focus is on the football preparation and performance for the weekend. We need everybody available to be ready to go.”
Lingard has struggled for regular game time since returning from injury. He was in the first XI for last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur - his first start since December - but was substituted at half-time.
He has made 19 appearances for Forest and scored two goals. Also coming towards the end of their deals at the City Ground are Jack Colback, Andre Ayew, Jordan Smith, Cafu and Lyle Taylor. Serge Aurier signed a one-year deal but revealed last month that his contract will automatically be extended if Cooper’s side stay up. Meanwhile, Dean Henderson, Renan Lodi and Keylor Navas are all on loan until the summer.
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