Football: English Championship Clubs eye Forest’s defender Mancienne on free transfer |21 April 2017

A host of clubs are keeping tabs on Michael Mancienne's contract situation at Nottingham Forest, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the club.

Mancienne is out of contract at Forest this summer and news of his possible availability on a free transfer has alerted a number of his suitors.

Forest are keen to keep hold of the former England Under-21 international and offer him a new deal, but due to the club's precarious position in the Championship relegation battle they are unable to make any decisions on players' contracts.

Mancienne has been on the bench for the last few games as he has a clause in his contract where he will win a new 12-month deal if he starts another two games.

Forest are reluctant to play him until they know their own fate in the Championship as they are not going to be able to keep Mancienne if they play in League One next season.

If Forest secure their Championship status they plan to sit down and discuss a new deal with Mancienne as they see him as a key part of their future plans.

However, a number of clubs are ready to take advantage of the uncertainty over Forest's future in the Championship by trying to set up a move for former Chelsea youngster Mancienne on a free transfer.

Mancienne is born of a Seychellois father and has been contacted in the past to represent Seychelles but he has rejected the offer up till now. In the past, Mancienne claimed that if he hadn’t played for England by the time he turns 25, he would play for Seychelles. Although he is now 29, he still has not made the decision to play for Seychelles.

Son of former Seychelles international footballer and Sportsman of the Year Mike Mancienne, utility player Michael Mancienne as also played for Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hamburg during his career and was an England regular at under-21 level since making his debut against Romania on August 21, 2007.

He was part of the side who reached the 2009 European Championships. However, his tournament was a disappointment as he received a red card in their opening group game against Finland.

On November 15, 2008, Fabio Capello surprisingly named Mancienne in the England senior squad to play an international friendly match against Germany in Berlin. He did not appear in the game though.

He has previously also represented England at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.

S. N.