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A loan move to Rotherham United would be right for the next step in Ryan Yates’ career, says Aitor Karanka.

The highly-regarded Nottingham Forest midfielder has a number of suitors, but a switch to the Reds' Championship rivals is close to being completed.

And Karanka believes it will be the perfect opportunity for the 20-year-old, who made his Forest debut in the EFL Cup win over Bury a few weeks ago but has found his chances limited since.

With Ben Watson, Adlene Guedioura, Jack Colback and Liam Bridcutt all available to slot into the two deeper midfield roles within the Forest ranks, Karanaka fears Yates would not play too much football at the City Ground this season.

But if Rotherham agree to offer him plenty of first-team opportunities, Karanka will sanction a move to Yorkshire for the midfielder, who has previously flourished during loan spells in League Two with Notts County and with League One Scunthorpe United.

“It might be Rotherham. We need to find the right place to send him on loan, because if he is not going to play, it is not good for anyone,” said Karanka. “I hope that Rotherham can be the right place for him.

“It would be a good move for him. I told him that the first step for him last season was Notts County, the next step was Scunthorpe and the one after that – the perfect one – could be a team like Rotherham in the Championship.

(Image: David Haber)

“I think he will be (going out on loan). Ryan is a very good player and I have been really impressed with his pre-season.

“But when you have players like Jack Colback, Adlene Guedioura, Ben Watson and Liam Bridcutt, it is going to be difficult for him to play.”

Yates had flourished in pre-season , playing a larger role in the side during Forest's games in Spain.

But he has not been involved as much since and Karanka feels that regular football is key to his development.

“When we played against Bury, it was not the same for him to play in official competition as it was in pre-season,” said Karanka. “It is good for him to play. I know for sure that he will be a very good player, because he has everything.

“He is hungry, he is a good professional and he leaves every single training session having given everything.”