Kinnear wants big money for Reid

Nottingham Forest manager Joe Kinnear has slapped a £10m (€15m) price tag on Andy Reid.

Kinnear is bracing himself for a close-season battle to hang onto the midfielder, whose long-range goal was the highlight of yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Millwall, watched by scouts from 17 Premiership clubs.

In January, Forest rejected a Tottenham bid of £2.5m (€3.75m) for the Republic of Ireland international and Kinnear confirmed Spurs were prepared to offer £5m (€7.5m) plus midfielder Rohan Ricketts.

Kinnear was unimpressed though, and said: “Spurs had first tabled a bid, which was rejected, before I arrived at Forest as manager so I phoned David Pleat to ask him what the score was – and it was £5m (€7.5m) plus Ricketts.

“Five million? If Reidy were to go we’d be looking for more than that. At his young age he’s got to be up there at £10m (€15m).

“In fact, I wouldn’t say there’s much between Reidy and Damien Duff.

“You could say Damien Duff’s already done it in the Premiership but Andy’s got plenty of time to do that because he’s a great player, very talented and with the ability to go all the way.

“He’s got turn of pace, can curl a ball, use his right foot, has a bright brain and gives you that balance on the left side of the park.

“Andy Reid is a serious challenger for Damien Duff’s Republic of Ireland shirt although Ireland are lucky, they can probably play Reidy narrow and then Duff wide outside him.”

With the point against Millwall having all but guaranteeing Forest’s Division One survival for another season, Kinnear is set to open talks with chairman Nigel Doughty tomorrow over his transfer kitty.

He said: “All good clubs have a star player and when that star player disappoints so can the team.

“I’m not saying Andy Reid makes us a one-man team but what I am saying is we’re a better team when he’s functioning well and if Reidy goes there’s going to be a problem replacing a player like that.

“I’d like to keep Reidy here and build round him, as well as all my best players, to have a real go at getting into the Premiership and taking this club forward.

“I’m going to the chairman’s house tomorrow and we’re going to be discussing players and budgets for next season, hopefully we won’t be too far apart.”