According to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba has turned down the offer of a new contract and wishes to leave the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Forest secure promotion

Samba arrived at the City Ground from Caen back in 2019, where he has featured 133 times for the club during his three-year spell in the Championship.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful season with the Reds as they managed to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years following a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

However, now entering the final 12 months of his contract with Steve Cooper’s side, a decision regarding his future with the Midlands outfit will soon have to be made, and following a fresh update, it appears as though the shot-stopper knows exactly the next steps he wants to take.

The Latest: Samba’s decision revealed

In a post on his personal Twitter account, Ornstein confirmed that Samba doesn’t have any intentions of staying at Forest.

“EXCL: Nottingham Forest suffer major blow as goalkeeper Brice Samba informs club he won’t be signing new contract (deal ends 2023) and reluctantly intends to leave this summer. NFFC still hopeful but 28yo deemed recent offer unacceptable.”

Expanding further in his column for The Athletic, the journalist stated that the keeper’s decision to turn the new proposal down is said ‘not to be financially motivated’, but more based on respect for his ‘achievements, importance and popularity’ at the club.

The source claims that Forest have directly told them that ‘talks are taking place’ with the player, and that they ‘remain determined’ to retain his services beyond the upcoming window.

The Verdict: Samba’s penalty heroics

Samba has become a favourite amongst fans during his time in England and played such a key role in the jump up to the top-flight, most notably for his incredible penalty shootout heroics against Sheffield United.

The Linzolo-born talent made 45 outings across all competitions for Forest this season, keeping a total of 16 clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt, and effectively played the number one role having been chosen as first-choice keeper by the Welsh boss.

Cooper has a great relationship with Samba, but whether that will be enough to convince him to stay at the club for their first campaign back in the Premier League yet remains to be seen.

In other news… a club have reportedly made an offer in a bid to sign one of Forest’s 2021/22 standout performers.