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Nottingham Forest are reluctantly ready to sell Ben Osborn - for the right price.

Newly promoted Sheffield United have made one unsuccessful bid for the midfielder, which was thought to be worth in the region of £3m.

The Blades retain a strong interest in signing him and, while Nottinghamshire Live understands that there has not yet been an improved bid officially placed on the table, the Reds are braced for that to happen.

And, with only one year left to run on Osborn’s contract, they are wary of losing the player for nothing at the end of the season.

(Image: NFFC)

The club had expected the situation to be resolved before the squad departed for their Greek training camp - which Osborn has been a part of.

The 24-year-old came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the 3-0 win over Atromitos on Saturday, as Sabri Lamouchi notched up his first win in the dugout.

Nottinghamshire Live understands that Osborn has not pressured the club to allow him to move - and that he has remained professional in his approach while out in Athens.

But, at the same time, the lure of Premier League football is an attractive one to the product of the Nigel Doughty Academy.

And an agreement over a potential transfer is now expected.

The Blades remain determined to land one of their primary summer targets, as they prepare for life in the top flight.

And the Reds are aware that they remain vulnerable, if they were to reject any improved offer for the player now, only for his contract to run down during the course of the current campaign, which could lead to him become a free agent next summer.

Osborn remains a versatile first team regular at the City Ground and Lamouchi will be disappointed to see him depart - but any money raised from the transfer will be reinvested in the playing squad.

Osborn has made 194 starts and 36 sub appearances for the Reds, since making his debut under Gary Brazil, at Ipswich in March 2014.

He has scored 16 goals for Forest, the most famous of which was the late winner for them at Pride Park, against old rivals Derby County, in January 2015.

Osborn’s versatility had been seen as a valuable asset to numerous Forest managers, but the player himself had become frustrated at being fielded at left back, rather than in his preferred midfield role, regularly last season.

No deal is understood to have yet been finalised. But, barring a late twist, his appearance against Bolton on the final day of last season, looks ever more like it may prove to be his last in the Garibaldi Red.