As the January transfer window edges towards its conclusion, Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage has offered an update on Laurent Mendy amid reported interest from Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.
Stroud Times understands Rovers’ top brass have rebuffed an offer for their captain, who led Rovers to a 1-1 draw against Altrincham last night.
“Right now, as it stands, Laurent Mendy is a Forest Green player,” said Savage. “He’s under contract for the next two-and-a-half years. That’s the situation.
“There’s interest because he’s an unbelievable player. A brilliant talent. He’s stepped up two levels and performed.
“That’s what we want as a football club – to develop players and create interest.
“But right now, he’s our player. There’s no buyout clause. That situation is with the sporting director and the owner.”
“I thought his second-half performance was brilliant. It didn’t faze him. That’s what I expect from my captain.”
As a player, Savage experienced a similar situation. He added: “I’ve been in situations as a player where offers for me were turned down, and I had to get on with it. For a couple of weeks, of course, you feel frustrated and want to move – that was me – but I had to keep going. I eventually got my move from Birmingham to Blackburn, and there were times when I could have gone to a club when I was younger, but it didn’t happen. I kept playing and performing well, and a few months later, the move came. I expect the same from all my players: regardless of the situation, while they’re here, they must give everything for me and the team – and tonight, they did.”
