Winger Jed might leave Lions and could be on Reds’ radar
WALLACE COULD BE WANTED MAN AS MILWALL BOSS ADMITS HE COULD LEAVE THE DEN
MILLWALL manager Gary Rowett admits Jed Wallace may have played his last game for the club with Nottingham Forest interested in signing him on a free transfer this summer.
The winger’s contract with the Lions expires in June but he has not yet agreed an extension with the club. Speculation around his future has swirled over the past few months as a result.
A number of clubs have reportedly expressed their interest in the player, including the Reds. Burnley, Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Turkish outfit Besiktas have also been linked.
Forest were keen to get a deal done for the former Wolves man in January but Wallace later revealed that he was “never that close” to leaving the London outfit.
Forest boss Steve Cooper might go in for him again when the transfer window reopens next month.
Rowett is hoping that Wallace, one of the star performers in the Championship in recent years, will remain at The Den next season.
But when asked whether the 28-year-old’s emotional applause directed at the Millwall fans on the final day of the Championship season was a sign that he is on the way out, he told the South London Press: “I don’t know. I think it’s him saying there is a possibility of (leaving the club).”
Given the ability that Wallace possesses, Rowett expects him to attract plenty of suitors for his signature considering there will be no transfer fee involved. He also suggested that he has what it takes to make it in the Premier League.
“He’s earned the right with his performances, over a long period of time,” Rowett added. “He’s earned the right to have options in the summer. He’s a top-quality Championship player who, I know, can play at different levels of the game.
“He’ll have options. It’s up to him. He has to make whatever he thinks is the right decision for him and his family.
“I think he loves the club and he loves the fans. I think it will be a difficult decision.
“The chances are he might not be here next season. If he is, fabulous that’s one less problem to worry about. But if he’s not then big boots to fill.
“Good luck to him. I gave him a big hug in there - he’s been fabulous for me.
“Whatever he does will be the right decision for him. He has got Premier League quality and, on a free transfer, there will be a hell of a lot of teams looking at him.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin says the club are releasing possible Forest transfer target Luke Turner at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old is out of contract with the Scottish side this summer and will be available on a free transfer.
The teenager is now on “Forest’s radar”, with the centre-back being “offered a trial” with Steve Cooper’s men, according to the Daily Record.
Turner is yet to make a first-team appearance for Aberdeen but enjoyed an impressive season-long loan spell with Northern Ireland side Cliftonville. The Northern Irishman has earned rave reviews for his performances this season.
The defender has played 43 times in all competitions and was crowned Northern Ireland’s Young Player of the Year at the NI Football Awards this week.
A successful trial with the Reds could lead to a contract with the Championship club and a place in the U23s squad.
Goodwin has provided some clarity on Turner’s future and confirmed that the player has not been offered a new deal and will be allowed to join a new club on a Bosman once his contract expires.
The Irishman said that the teenager is “a little bit short” of what the club wants from defensive players and does not want to block the path of other youngsters coming through.
“We’ve spoken to Luke and his representatives,” Goodwin told The Press And Journal. “We believe it’s probably in Luke’s best interests because of the players we’ve got coming through.
“Luke has had a really good loan period over in Northern Ireland and
has done particularly well. However, we just believe it’s a little bit short for what we’re looking at in that area.
“We’ve got another one or two good young centre-backs coming through the system and you’re always wary of blocking that pathway.
“It would have been easy to give the young man another year or two. But we felt it was right just to give him the opportunity to go and find something a bit more permanent somewhere else.
“These decisions have to be made. In hindsight, you hope to be proved that they’re the right ones.”