Nottingham Forest could face frustration if they push ahead with a bid for Wolves defender Conor Coady.
The Reds have been linked with a move for the experienced centre-half, as have Premier League new boys Sheffield United. Coady looked set to join Everton for £4.5m at the end of his loan spell at one stage last season, however, he lost his place under Sean Dyche and now faces an uncertain future.
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This week, Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs suggested the 30-year-old could still have a future at the club amid speculation the defender will move on this summer.
The England defender is still under contract at Wolves and is due to report back for pre-season training at the start of July. Hobbs says the defender wants to come back and a decision will be made after further talks involving manager Julen Lopetegui.
Hobbs told the club: “Conor is someone I’ve spoken to more or less every day since the season finished. He’s made it clear he’d like to come back, however there’s obviously a lot of interest in him, but the manager is speaking to him soon to get a feel for him and see what Conor wants.
“The type of player I’m talking about signing, Conor would be that type of player and he’s already our player, but it’s a conversation for him and the manager to have.”
Former captain Coady has played more than 300 games for Wolves but was let out on loan under former manager Bruno Lage last season because the manager didn’t see him fitting into the switch from a back four to a three. The move also gave Coady the chance of regular football to further his England prospects ahead of the World Cup.
The defender lost his place at Everton when Dyche was appointed manager in January although he did return to the side for the crucial final-day win over Bournemouth when Everton secured a 1-0 victory that kept them in the Premier League.
Another element in the discussion about Coady’s future is the fact the club needs to raise money through player sales this summer if they are to sign players. They need to balance the books to ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play restrictions but Wolves would also have to weigh up whether Coady is more valuable to them as a member of the squad than any likely transfer fee.
His fellow Wolves central defenders Max Kilman and Nathan Collins have also been lined with interest elsewhere, with Brentford reportedly prepared to pay £20m for Republic of Ireland defender Collins.
Should Forest still try to sign Coady? Let us know in the comments section.
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